Have you worked at Allwoods? Have you any stories of meeting the famous Montagu and his brothers?

We would love to hear them and with a firm as old as ours we get told so many, now it's time we wrote them down so please contact us with your memories and we will add them to this section.


From: Mr H B, Wickford, Essex.
Out of the blue came your catalogue, marvellous, great stuff. I was very pleased. They say that fate plays many strange things to us these days and this is one of them. My old uncle Richard (Dick) knew the Allwoods many, many years ago and ran his business at Wivelsfield green (petrol station and haulage contacting, with my aunts bungalow at the rear, alice her name) She used to invite me down for holidays when I was 13 years old. My family lost touch with them, the war came, I was called up for the army at 20 serving in the desert campaign for 4.5 years (8th Army). I always remember my uncle "Dick" taking me around the greenhouse showing me those tall pinks. I think your offices were right opposite the greenhouse. I hope you did not mind my writing to you about the strange happening which brought back many memories and happiness at those long gone years.

From: J.M.S, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield.
Thank you for your interesting catalgoue, it took me back, I used to grow perpetuals in the 1950's and used Allwoods stock then! I am delighted that you the new owners have resurrected the firm and are continuing in the traditional ways. I was also delighted to see that you are offering 'Waithmans Beauty' in the alpine section. I worked in the late 1950's for Reginald Raye at his alpine nursery in Silverdale and Reg selected and named that variety. The house on the nursery is called Waithman House, which is where the name came from. I grew 'Waithmans beauty' for years after I left Silverdale. I am retired now - aged 73, with all good wishes for your continued success at Allwoods.

From: E. R. B, Kilgetty, Dyfed.
I have been prompted to write this note because of your catalogue. I have been in horticulture for some eighty years, having started as a garden boy before the war and have been in commercial gardeing ever since. In those early days the 'Allwoods' name was highly respected, as was Carters, Blackmore & Langdon, Ryders, whiteleggs and many more. Then the shows were furnished by the firms own production and not bought in. I spent most of my career in cut flower growing for market growing in particular carnations, roses, chrysanths and fressias. I had bought plants from Allwoods, mostly for stock of new seedlings, they were completely different times in the market growing industry and perhaps we look back with rose-coloured glasses. Most of those early firms are not with us now. However I am so pleased that you are attempting to keep Allwoods in the forefront of the amateur trade that I wish you well in your efforts. I am now 86 years old and still find great pleasure in growing plants.