Kewite-mail Winter 2025/2026

Kew Guild Medal – Alex George

If you attended the 2025 AGM or have read the meeting minutes, you will know that our long‑standing member, Alex George, was awarded the Kew Guild Medal. As Alex is based in Australia, we could only present him with the medal virtually at the time. We issued a plea to members who were travelling between the UK and Australia, and Kathleen (Kath) Smith kindly came to our rescue.

We are grateful to Martin Staniforth, who kindly kept the medal and certificate safe until Kath’s daughter Ava popped in to Kew to pick them up from Martin. Ava duly carried them all the way back to Australia to Kath. Alex travelled to meet Kath at her home near Perth, Western Australia, on 27 January 2026.

As so many Kewites have done, the latest Medal journeyed far beyond our shores to find its new home, reflecting the fellowship of the Guild.

Kath Smith (née King) began working at Kew in 1995 as a horticultural intern. After earning her Kew Diploma in 1999, she went on to manage the Tropical and Science Support Nurseries for 10 years as Science and Collections Coordinator. Kath was appointed Head of Hardy Display in 2010 before returning to Perth, Australia in 2012. She played a key role in implementing the Kew Apprenticeship and Traineeship schemes, as well as supporting the initial trial of integrating horticultural volunteers in the gardens.

Alex is wearing his T-shirt from his stints as a volunteer at Kew in 2003 and 2004-05, and his security card from his term as the Australian Botanical Liaison Officer in 2004-05. Photographs by Ava Smith.

Membership renewals

We have now completed the membership renewals for 2026. Thank you to everyone who has renewed. A few duplicate payments have occurred where members set up a Direct Debit but did not cancel their Standing Order. Sara is currently contacting those affected, and most of those members have generously chosen to donate the duplicate payment. We also still have some members paying an outdated subscription rate, and Sara is working to reach them so they can top up to the correct amount of £30.

Membership numbers are rising and we now have 345 members (compared with 326 in November 2025). 6 members are on ‘grace’ and Sara is trying to contact them to encourage them to renew. If they do, this will be our highest membership rate since 2022 when we introduced the affiliateship programme for new students. Of the 107 affiliates then, many of them have signed up for continuing student membership.

We are very pleased to continue our partnership with the RHS into 2027, with Chairman Rob, successfully negotiating another year. Sara has sent details to the RHS and you will be receiving your renewal in March. Thanks must go to the RHS for this very generous offer, and this is proving very popular with members.

We are also extending the ‘introduce a new member’ offer again this year. If you introduce a new member to the Guild, we will refund your membership for the year – so start thinking who would benefit from being part of both the Guild and the RHS. We have had two people take up this offer this year already.

Your 2026 membership card has been ordered, and you will also receive this in the next few weeks. This will entitle you to free entry to RBG Kew, Wakehurst, and Ventnor Botanic Gardens.

Welcoming the students

Trustees are due to welcome the new cohort of students with a special supper on the 25^th February at the Coach and Horses. This is a great way of introducing the Guild to young people and we hope that this will forge long and fruitful relationships for the future.

This year, the students number: 8 Diploma Students in Course 63, 6 horticultural apprentices in apprentice group 17 (first years), 1 arborist apprentice Kew site, 8 Kew Specialist Certificates (one year course). At Wakehurst we have 1 arborist and 2 horticultural apprentices and finally, 6 on the Introducttion to Horticulture six-month student programme for very green novices.

Northumberland trip

Plans for the Northumberland trip (16^th – 18^th June) are progressing, with accommodation sorted and visits and trips confirmed. If you would like to join this exciting weekend, and haven’t already let us know, please can you register with Sara ASAP.

AGM – save the date

The AGM will take place on Saturday 5th September at RBG Kew. Put this in your diary; we would love to see you there. We are hoping that the Annual Dinner will be reinstated and take place after the AGM – members Richard Ward and David Taber have been instrumental in pressing for this to resume. As soon as we have any further information, Sara will send an email to gauge interest in attending.

Treasurer role

Trustees and Officers extend their sincere thanks to Tim Woodcock for his many years of dedicated service as Treasurer. As Tim has now stepped down, we wish him every success for the future. In the meantime, Trustee Chris and Secretary Sara will be working closely with our accountants, Mackenzies, to ensure the Guild’s financial operations continue smoothly and without interruption.

Award Scheme

The next meeting of the Award Scheme is coming up in March, and already we have had some brilliant applications. There has been a slight glitch with submitting forms from the web site, but this is in hand and we hope to have this resolved within the week.

Journal

Ros is working diligently on the next edition of the Journal and the deadline for submissions has now passed. We look forward to another great edition.

Honouring Allan Hart

We extend heartfelt thanks to all members, Trustees, and officers who joined us in celebrating the life of Allan Hart. It was a truly special occasion, and wonderful to see so many familiar faces come together.

We are delighted to share that the Hart family’s generous donation to the Kew Guild has received an incredible response – raising over £2,000, which will fund a one-off prize for a student at next year’s Prize Day. Allan’s son, Richard, has kindly agreed to present the award in person.

We’ve also received questions about Gift Aid on donations, and if you have made a donation and would like to add Gift Aid (25p for every £1 donated) please request a form from the Secretary.

Stan Hitt MBE

I am sad to let you know that one of our Alumni, Stan Hitt, has also passed away in the last few days. Stan was the Head of Parks in Bath and received an MBE for his services to Horticulture in 2024. He was also on the Committee of Bath in Bloom for 54 years. I will let members know of any funeral arrangements as soon as I have them.

History of the Kew Guild

One of our members has written to Sara about the fascinating stories and reports contained in the Journal in the 133 years the Guild has been in existence. It prompted a question about whether anyone has ever written about these. The Archives tour given by Alice at the AGM was a glimpse of a fascinating history and if anyone would like to volunteer to provide an historical section for the annual Journal, we would very much welcome your input.

Request from a member

Chris Kidd is searching for information from anyone who lived in a house on Cumberland Road at Kew. Chris stayed there for three years, and was the last student before the family moved to the south coast. The landlady, Mrs Kirkpatrick, had taken in Kew students since 1969, her first was Stewart Henchie. Others included Mathew Biggs and Mike Maunder. I'd like to get the names together in some way for an article for the KG Journal in future. Please contact Sara, Secretary@kewguild.org.uk with any info. This item was included in the newsletter before Christmas, but Chris has not received any replies – so if you stayed in Cumberland Road, please let us know.

Floreat Kew.