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by Gerwyn Reynolds
It started as one of many ideas thrown up by the members in early January 2009.
We were just concluding the Annual General Meeting and discussing the plan of action to tackle the annual clean up and organisation of the facility that Chris Thomas allows us to use unreservedly. I am not sure which member or members mentioned it, but at the end of the day it's irrelevant the idea was a great one and put to Chris, after all it's his nursery and grounds and he does have a business to run. So when Chris enthusiastically agreed to allow Dragon Bonsai the additional space in front of the entrance to the polytunnel the discussions really started. We agreed to clean up the polytunnel, make the small necessary repairs, clear the area in front of the polytunnel and then we would as ONE group of members discuss the design for an Outdoor Working area come Show Area.
The discussions unsurprisingly were excited but not animated and there were as you can imagine with so many people involved many many ideas thrown into the pot as it were. Well what else would you expect from a bunch of Bonsai enthusiasts used to critique. The discussion went on late into the afternoon and it was agreed that everyone should re-convene the following Sunday minus their trees to conclude the discussion and finalise the details for the design and agree a plan of action. There were I can tell you some very hot phones over the course of that week with members ringing each other wanting to get the views of others on their ideas. All great stuff and a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of the Dragon Bonsai Members. Well the following Sunday arrived and the day was freezing cold, so an absolute surprise or not maybe ! that everyone was at the polytunnel early, well before the agreed meeting time. The discussion and plan of actions were agreed by everyone and over in a flash. We were going to start the Project TODAY.
We had already set in our Events Diary an Open Day for early May, and one of the agreements was that we should target that event for the Grand Opening.
The work itself went extremely smoothly, probably down to Colin and Bob. These two guys worked as the construction leaders if you like with us other members providing the labour for them in the main. I must say again without apology the commitment and enthusiasm from the members throughout the construction period was fantastic. After all we all turn up every Sunday to work on trees and discuss Bonsai. But throughout this period Colin and Bob never touched a tree, they just tirelessly worked week after week to complete the Project with many of the members making a similar sacrifice. Nobody but Nobody complained or moaned everyone just got on with the jobs they were allocated. What makes these sacrifices even more commendable is all of this is going on in the throws of a very hard Winter, and all of us surely will remember how sustainably cold it was. Yet week after week members turned up to lend a hand to our two Construction Leaders. Mind you a couple of times I thought I heard a couple of members talking over a well earned steaming cup of coffee likening Colin and Bob to a pair of Concentration Camp Commandants or maybe not ! maybe I just misheard them ?
We had surprisingly very few hold-ups. We had an awful lot of help from some local Businesses. Namely Builders Merchants, Aggregate Suppliers and Construction firms who either donated or subsidised some or all of the cost of the supplies we needed. We are truly grateful to them considering the current economic climate and we Thank Them enormously and there are some proposals that will recognise this in some way at least, around the New Facility.
So construction continued. Adolph and Josef kept the Project on track and it was time to start discussing the Grand Opening.
It was suggested that it would be great to have a Guest of some sort to perform the honours so to speak. Well what a laugh that discussion turned into. Imagine….. the discussion starts quite soberly and realistically with some well known people from the Bonsai fraternity coming up along with some local dignitaries THEN IT STARTED. It only takes one smartass ( said in the nicest possible sense ) DOESN'T IT. The list was elevated to include local sport stars and before we knew it we were onto ‘ A ‘ list showbiz people. Needless to say we came back down to earth with a thud and it was easily agreed that it would be wholly appropriate to have someone from the Bonsai fraternity. It was left primarily for Chris to arrange the Guest, and maybe we left this action a little late to organise. It is amazing how busy in Bonsai some of these names really are. A tribute to their efforts and the growing enthusiasm for Bonsai in the United Kingdom . Most if not all the people Chris got in touch with were more than willing to perform the Opening Ceremony and spend the day with our members, guests and the general public, but as is usually the case when you leave something a little later than you would like to, commitments can override things. However Tony Tickle was enthusiastically willing to override his commitments and be with us. Chris also circulated details of the forthcoming event around the Bonsai circuit and left with them an open invitation to attend.
Lyn is overwelmed deciding which tree to photograpy.
THE OFFICAL OPENING
So we had some Guests and Friends lined up.
What about some food someone had asked ? Easily sorted….. Members wives…… What a spread.
What about local advertising someone asked ? Easily sorted….. South Wales Guardian……They put a great piece in the press advertising the event and hopefully will do a follow up later.
Well the Day had arrived, and what a glorious day it was. Full of sunshine. Someone was looking down on us favourably today and weren't we thankful.
We all turned up early to put finishing touches to the place and complete the displays inside and outside the polytunnel. That done Chris disappeared and returned at 9.30am with platefuls of bacon sandwiches and plenty of tea and coffee and we all got stuck in to the wonderful offering, finishing just in time to see Tony Tickle perform the GRAND OPENING of DRAGON BONSAI'S NEW WORKING AND SHOW AREA.
Once opened Tony spent the whole day with us. It would very difficult to cover here everything Tony imparted to us, but I think it is more than fair to say he shared with us his valuable time, his unquestionable knowledge, his undoubted fabulous Bonsai skills, his pragmatic hints and tips, his respected advice, his passion, and all in a thoroughly witty and enjoyable fashion unique to Tony.
I know most of this editorial has concentrated on the build up to the Grand Opening and not as some people may have expected the events on the day itself. But my rationale is quite simple, and that is that Jerry with his portfolio of wonderful pictures will capture the flavour of the day as a ‘ Picture will paint a thousand words ‘ and I wanted to try and capture the fun we have had as a group of members working together on what has turned out to be an enjoyable experience that we will, and so will future members, benefit and enjoy for many years to come.
Tony worked very hard all day on members and guests trees giving advice as well as physically re-styling many.
Chris held an impromptu bonsai starter session for some of our new to bonsai guests attending.
Members, happy faces.
(For a small donation to DBS these can be removed)
We also presented a display area for members and guest alike to present their trees.
We had planned to hold a photo shoot thoughtout the day of all the trees displayed, but as it happend, Tony was on with hardly a break and no-one wanted to leave the
"Tony Tickle flood", and miss out.
So I only managed to get 3 trees, late in the afternoon after Tony had left.
Bob's larch.
Jerry's larch
Martin's larch.
On behalf of every Dragon Bonsai Member our heartfelt thanks go to :
Tony Tickle for performing the Opening Ceremony and giving us a wonderful day.
Chris and Julie Thomas for their undiminished hospitality.
Jerry Wheeler for his enthusiasm and tenacity to capture everything we do and share it with the world.
Our Guests and Visitors, and in particular the Warminster and Devon Societies who travelled a long long way to support the Opening.
Our Local Businesses for their support.
Colin and Bob our Construction Leaders for the weeks of hard work, the sacrifice of their time, the endless jovial abuse and banter they have had to put with and the brilliant job that they have done for us all.
PS: If you want to come along and visit us anytime there is an open invitation to you all. Just make contact with anyone listed on the website.