I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing, yesterday, of Audrey Leach of Alloway, Ayrshire.
Audrey has been a steadfast member of the SRGC for many, many, years having first been cajoled on to the local Ayr Group committee by the late Bill Ivey. Whether working for her local group, occasionally exhibiting her plants or supporting Club events up and down the country - often doing her best to buy as many as she could plants from the specialist nurseries to keep them solvent, Audrey was devoted to the SRGC.
She was a kind and generous hostess to Speakers visiting her local group and worked on many Club displays for the Ayr Flower Show. Audrey did not exhibit widely, in spite of attending a great many Club shows - but she had considerable success when she did so, and was modestly surprised when she won a Forrest Medal! Bette Ivey had seen a fine plant growing in Audrey’s garden and persuaded her to dig it up, pot it and enter it in the Glasgow Show in 1989.
The plant was
Leptospermun scoparium nanum and it was a real beauty – it was a deserving winner of our Club’s premier award – and one of those rare occasions when the Forrest Medal plant comes from the “beginner’s” section. When she returned from a mosey round the shops in Milngavie, Audrey was as shocked as she was delighted to have won such a prize.
Audrey was best pal to the SRGC Honorary President, Bette Ivey, for many years and the two of them, known affectionately for their diminutive size, as “Little Aud and Wee Bette” could always be seen together at Club events. In more recent times the “terrible twins” were joined in their happy holidays around the world by Kath Rimmer and Helen Greenwood – these four female forces of nature travelled to all sorts of places and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the local flora – and tea shops of the area. One of the fondest memories Ian and I have of Audrey was the number of photos Bette shared with us of Aud from their holidays – invariably tucking into a huge slice of fancy cake or pastry on a mountain picnic. A quality hotel was required for these trips – this feisty foursome had gone beyond the need for camping!
Bette, Helen and Kath will be among those who miss Audrey the most.
Widowed at a young age, with two small children to raise, her daughter Susan and son Ian, Audrey was no stranger to hard work and her lovely family, now with grand-daughters Robyn and Amy and two great-grand-daughters, are testament to her success in that part of her life too.
Our fondest sympathies are sent to Aud’s Family and her many friends – this tiny lady with a big heart will be sorely missed.
Kath Rimmer, Bette Ivey and Audrey Leach at an SRGC Discussion Weekend.
