If they had an allotment, the supply could be plentiful – and there was always the chance of winning a prize.
Oxford City Council and gardening organisations ran competitions to reward those who reaped the best harvest.
The picture above shows members of Rose Hill Allotment Association in the city receiving a prize in the 1985 Garden News/Dobies Garden Society contest.
Garden News editor Norman Wright, in the beard, is seen presenting a plaque to association vice-president Edward Brewster.
He also handed over a £20 voucher recognising the 150 members’ outstanding achievements on their plots.
Mr Brewster had written an article for Garden News about the Rose Hill members’ work and judges were so impressed they gave them their monthly awards.
Between Mr Wright and Mr Brewster is the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Roger Dudman.
Others in the picture are, left to right, George Cooper, Bob Arnatt, Harold Compton, Mel Davies, Ron James, and George Todd.
The presentation of the plaque took place in Mr Brewster’s garden in Thames View Road, Rose Hill.
Mr Brewster said he was proud to add the plaque to other trophies the association had won, and the voucher would be spent on seeds for the allotments in the 1986 season.
The allotment holders received warm praise from Garden News editor Norman Wright.
He said: “The association has tried very much to improve the allotments without waiting for the authorities to do it for them. They have not only grown tremendous vegetables but improved their facilities as well.”
The lower picture shows Albert Hilland who, as the Oxford Mail reported in 1983, was “the allotment king of Oxford” for the second year running.
Albert Hilland(Image: Submitted)
Mr Hilland, 53, of William Kimber Crescent, Headington, had again taken first prize in the city’s annual allotment competition.
He was a member of the Headington and District Allotments Association and had two allotments in Barton Village Road.
He had made a habit of doing well in the competition which he had entered for six years – previously, he had been runner-up twice and third once.
He grew a wide range of vegetables and never needed to buy greens. His speciality crop that year had been onions.
He told the Mail: “I was quite chuffed when I heard I had won again. But I did not think my allotments looked as good as last year because of the very hot weather.”
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