Dennis Flaherty Elected Allotments Society Chairman
Members hoping vote will mark end of troubled time for association
Former Allotments Secretary Dennis Flaherty bidding to become Chairman
Members of the Chiswick Horticultural & Allotments Society (CHAS) have elected Dennis Flaherty as its new chairman.
He replaces Henry Gewanter who had served in the role for 15 years.
It is widely hoped across the membership that the completion of the voting process at the society's AGM this Sunday (25 April) will also mark the end of contention which has plagued the association in recent months with a number of office holders handing in their resignations.
Mr Flaherty acted as Allotments Secretary for six years and says that he managed to let over 150 plots during that time leading to a doubling of the society’s membership to 600.
During both Covid lockdowns, he has been instrumental in growing seedlings from his many plants to sell at the CHAS Trading Hut and, thus, raising money for the charity. He also writes a weekly column in the CHAS newsletter.
He said his manifesto, “Over the last year there has been an unpleasant atmosphere of growing unrest, discontent, upset and even anger, both at committee level and amongst our Members. This has resulted in multiple resignations, with potentially more to follow.”
CHAS is a charity whose objectives are the promotion and furtherance of the art, science and practice of horticulture, founded in 1915 as the Chiswick Allotment Holders Association. It is run entirely by volunteers: the committee, the allotment site reps, the greenhouse and catering teams and the trading hut volunteers. The President is Paul Lynch and the two Vice Presidents: Noreen Jones and John Todd.
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April 26, 2021