The 2004 News Letter
 

Calendar of Events 2005

January 8th Annual Dinner Heaves Hotel 7-30pm

February 7th Meeting

March 7th Meeting

March 10th Lecture Mr Don Sutcliffe New Varieties And Leeds Trials 2004

April 7th Lecture Mr Les McGough  My Way

May 29th Plant Sale Hilltop Nursery

August 1st Meeting

September 11th NWDS Annual Show Kendal

October 3rd Meeting

October 20th Lecture Mr John Parkinson Leeds Trials Ground 2005

December 1st Annual General Meeting + Lecture Don Sutcliffe New Varieties 2005

December 4th Tuber Sale Hilltop Nursery

All lectures take place at the Club Inn, Endmoor unless stated

Committee meetings will take place at the Club Inn, Endmoor

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Chairman’s Report
It is now twelve months since I made my first report (how time flies).
Once more it has been a year of ups and downs.
Our President and good friend Fred, is still being cared for in Oak Dene Castle Green Nursing Home Kendal.
We also had the sad loss of two of our Committee men, Peter Morland and George Fallows.
We are also looking for a new Secretary as John has now gone to live in Scotland and can not carry on anymore.
Anyone interested in the post please come to the AGM in December.
I would like to thank John for all his hard work he has put into our Society over the years and wish him luck in his new surroundings over the border and hope we will meet again in the future.

We had another enjoyable dinner at the Heaves Hotel and a good lecture in April by Barry Smith.
Congratulations to all our members who won top prizes as well as the minor ones at the top shows.
The North West lads are going from strength to strength at these top shows, well done every one of you and hope you can keep it up next year.
I also thank the Committee for all the time and hard work they have put into the Society to keep it running and a Happy New Year and a good growing season next year

George Towler 

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Secretary's Report
So another year has passed they say the older you get the faster the time goes by, it really has seem to have flown this year.
As most of you will know by now that I am retiring from the Society at the AGM, having moved to Scotland to follow my passions of shooting and fishing (its easier than growing dahlias).
The year was welcomed in, in the normal manner with the Annual dinner at the Heaves hotel when 40 members, wives and guests sat down for an excellent evening.
On the last weekend in March several members accompanied by their wives attended the Northern AGM held at the CROOKLANDS Hotel Nr Kendal, many of whom stayed for the superb dinner followed by some brilliant entertainment from the Scottish Society, and at times by the entire audience, which included the National President and the General Secretary.
Barry Smith was the lecturer in April and he was greatly appreciated by the good attendance at Endmoor.
The annual plant sale took place in May at Hilltop Nursery which boosted society funds but was poorly attended (so get there next May!!!).
September was the Annual Show (results shown elsewhere) and despite the bad weather the exhibitors managed to stage 270 vases of blooms thanks must go to the judges L McGough and C Kieghley for their time and expertise.
Congratulations are due to all the members who staged and showed at the various shows spread between Shepton Mallet and Stirling with an amazing amount of success.
Our final lecture held in November was given by Dave Spencer at the CROOKLANDS Hotel, we had visitors from Scottish dahlia Society, North East dahlia Society Midlands Dahlia Society, Welsh Dahlia society and of course the Vagabonds were there in force which gave a total audience of 64.
Everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.
Thanks must go to all those who travelled to support us, also those who donated raffle prizes.
since this is my last newsletter I should like to thank each and everyone of you for your help, support and friendship through out my term of office, in particular the Society Committee who have a difficult task to cover such a large area. I hope the Society will continue to flourish and grow and you will all give your fullest support.

John Smith

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New Member
I think I am safe in saying I am the youngest and newest member of the North West Committee and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for making me feel welcome.
We have some good laughs at the meetings and it is good to share ideas with other growers.
I have been growing dahlias for about ten years and showing for about six years locally, the last two I have Ventured to Harrogate, but I have still got a lot to learn.

time is my greatest problem, I work six long days a week on a farm so I struggle to spend enough time with with my dahlias, but after talking to Brian and Jimmy I am going to start using netting to grow my plants through, and mipex on the ground to save time, hopefully giving me more time to tend to my plants.
I usually try a new or fairly new variety each year, this year I tried Marston Lilac a miniature dec.
I would thoroughly recommend you to try it, if you haven't already grown it.
It has lovely form, plus great stems, nearly every bloom show worthy.
I managed to get a silver medal with it and if the dahlia judge had had his way the blue ribbon!.
Finally I would like to congratulate our members for the successes at the National shows and hope one day I will be able to join them.

Dave Woodhouse

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Around The Shows in the North West 2004
We start of the show season in the North West around the middle of August Storth flower show the best dahlia exhibit was 3 Richard Mark won by Jack Gott from Milnthorpe.

From there we take a trip to the Southport flower show we had the start of the wind and rain the week leading up to Southport that played havoc with the flowers.
The winner of the championship class and the ''Wolstenholme'' Trophy was Jimmy Heginbottom from Barrow in Furness, with 3, Kenora Challenger, 3, Cockswells Moonlight, 3, Kiwi Gloria and 3, Winholme Diane as attached photo.

Jimmy Heginbottom
Winner of Championship class
Southport

He also won the nine small or miniature cactus class with 6, Kiwi Gloria and 3 Trelyn's Kiwi.
Brian Warriner from Barrow in Furness won the ''Jescot'' Trophy and Silver medal for nine small decorative dahlias with 6, Gateshead Festival and 3, Amber Festival.
Back up to the Lake District to Arnside show the best exhibit in show the blue ribbon and silver medal for a bowl of dahlias went to Jack Gott, he also won bronze medal with 3 Lemon Elegance.
The same weekend Jack took his flowers to Warton show and won best dahlia exhibit with a bowl of dahlias.
Over to Furness Dahlia show and Brian Warriner won the silver medal with 3 Kiwi Gloria, and 3 Trelyn Kiwi, he won the bronze medal with 3 Trelyn Kiwi.
Milnthorpe show Jack Gott won the blue ribbon for best exhibit in show and silver medal with 3 Ruskin Myra, he also won bronze medal with 3 Hillcrest Suffusion.
Next we travel across to Inglton show Dave Woodhouse from West Roebensdale won silver medal with 3, Marston Lilac the bronze medal went to G McCeold from Burton in Lonsdale with 3 Noreen.                             .
Next down to Chipping show and Ian Sutherland fro Blackburn won silver medal with 3 Kenora Challenger, 3, Rossendale Lottie, and 3, Trelyn Kiwi and the bronze medal won by Don Kirshaw from Rossendale with 3 of his own seedlings Rossendale Lottie, white Medium Decorative.
Back up to Kendal and the Westmorland show Dave Woodhouse won silver medal with 3 Kenora Challenger.
The North West Dahlia show at Kendal the silver medal won by Barry Kenyon from Lancaster with 3, Pims Moonlight, 5, Winholme Diane, 5, Trelyn Kiwi

Barry Kenyon
Best Exhibit
North West Dahlia Show

Brian Warriner won bronze medal with 3, Kenora Challenger 5, Lakeland Sunshine is own seedling and 5 Whales Rhonda.
Then a trip down to Bolton to the Gray Mare show and Brian Warriner won silver medal with  3 Kenora Challenger, 3 Lakeland Autumn (Raised by him), 3 Kiwi Gloria, and 3 Trelyn Kiwi

Brian Warriner
Best Exhibit
Gray Mare Show

Jimmy Heginbottom won the bronze medal with 3 Kiwi Gloria for the best vase in show.
From the North West Dahlia Society the entire lad would like to congratulate Stan Pennington on receiving the silver medal for his contribution to the dahlia over the years.

NOT BEFORE TIME.
Jack Gott

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New Dahlia for 2005
Looking round the dahlia growers we have some good chaps amongst us. Its nice to see that some of the dahlia seed men think of the charities of this country, to help some that are less fortunate than others.  
The new variety’s this year seem to be getting less, as most of the show men don’t save seed like they used to, one time every man and his dog were at it, but now the nursery men are dwindling away, and more amateur growers are raising them. The Seedlings for 2005 look something like this.

Candlelight: giant decorative bright yellow. Height 4ft on good strong stems with good angles, easy makes size I saw this growing at the Northern Dahlia trials grounds Leeds and it looked quite impressive, this dahlia was raised by Ian Hill from Thirsk in Yorkshire the dahlia is named after a charity at St James Hospital in Leeds called Candlelighters and royalties on sales will be donated by Ian to that charity. It is already in demand from discerning exhibitors. To be introduced by Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. In there list 2005.

Hillcrest Millennium: medium semi cactus rich ruby red (none fading) Height 4ft on good strong stems. Raised by Les Jackson at Carlisle Cumbria, he informs me that it flowers early and there is no need to cover, it also makes a good tuber. It will be introduced by J&I Cruckshank, Ridgeview Nursery, By Longridge, Fauldhouse, West Lothian. in 2005.

Avoca Cherokee: medium decorative dark rose blends. Raised by Roger Turrell from Somerset. This variety was included in the four vase “Stephen Treseder” exhibit and placed at the National Dahlia Soc Show at Shepton Mallet 2004. Plants can be obtained from Porter’s Dahlias List 2005. 58, Stanley Rd, Halstead, Essex

Mish Mash: (Fimbriated) medium semi cactus orange/red/yellow blends. Easy to match, best vase of “Fims” in show at the National Dahlia Soc Show 2004. Raised by D Walker Hertfordshire. Plants can be obtained from Porter’s Dahlias List 2005. 58, Stanley Rd, Halstead, Essex

Rossendale Lottie: medium decorative white this is a nice dahlia with plenty of petal count, grows about 4ft high. Winner at Shepton Mallet and Harrogate National shows 2003, raised by Don Kershaw from Rossendale Lancs. for more information for pot tubers contact Don Kershaw. 01706 218036

Vanity: small ball, eye catching sport from “Ivanetti”.Well formed blooms of rich purple evenly tipped white. Height 3ft 6inch. originated on the nursery at Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. Is to be introduced by them as plants or tubers in there List 2005.

Stutton Gem: miniature ball red, height 4ft. an excellent miniature ball has been in winning championship exhibits this year. Raised by R Metcalfe from Yorkshire. Plants can be obtained from Porter’s Dahlias List 2005. 58, Stanley Rd, Halstead,Essex.

Rossendale Natasha: miniature ball pure white, height 4ft this looks as though it will do well plenty of petal. Raised by Don Kershaw from Rossendale Lancs for more information for pot tubers contact Don Kershaw. 01706 218036

Blyton Lady in Red: miniature ball red. It is very much the same shape as “Jomanda” when placed side by side, with the most perfect of centres. Height 3ft 6inch, its deep red colour is none fading. I have seen this flowering at the Leeds trials and it looked quite good. Raised by Les Stothard from Blyton Lincolnshire for more information on plants contact Blyton Dahlias 01427 628412.

Seeley’s Circus: miniature decorative apricot blends. Height 4ft 6inch, raised by G Powley from Suffolk. A true miniature decorative which has proved itself in close competition, grow all up with light disbudding. Plants can be obtained from Porter’s Dahlias List 2005. 58, Stanley Rd, Halstead, Essex.

Blyton Softer Gleam: miniature decorative lemon with each petal tipped orange; it has very large petal counts which fall into the most beautiful form. Height 3ft 6inch, Its plant habit is perfect in every way this also looked good at Leeds trials, raised by Les Stothard from Blyton Lincolnshire, for more information on plants contact
Blyton Dahlias 01427 628412.

 Streets Ahead: miniature decorative dark red, a true miniature of immaculate formation and healthy upright habit. Height 3ft 6inch, raised by Tom Cleghorn Scotland. Plants or tubers available from Hall of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland.

Charlie Dimmock: small waterlily orange/apricot with lemon base. Height 5ft an outstanding seedling from “Taratahi Ruby”. Superb form and habit, raised by Ken Stock from Bournemouth. I saw one bloom of this at Harrogate Show and thought this looks good, one that will be around for a long time to come well worth growing. Royalties on sale of this variety will be donated to Charlie Dimmock’s chosen charity “Breatheasy Breast Cancer” by Ken Stock. Available from Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. List 2005 Plants only.

Gwyneth: small waterlily bronze with slight yellow blends. Height 4ft 6inch, sported from Taratahi Ruby 2002 at Station House Nurseries Cheshire. I am told that it is less chance to go over size than the parent and brighter in colour. Plants from list 2005 Station House Nurseries Burton Cheshire.

White Cameo: small waterlily pure white sport of “Cameo”. Height 4ft raised by Graham Carey from Wales. If this is as good as the parent it will do well on the show bench. Plants from list 2005 Station House Nurseries Burton Cheshire.

Paul Magson: small semi cactus white. Height 3ft 6inch, raised by W.E. Mark from Essex, recommend to grow 8 up on it. Plants can be obtained from Porter’s Dahlias List 2005. 58, Stanley Rd, Halstead, Essex.

Pearson’s Ben: small semi cactus bright red, with strong stems. Height 4ft, raised in USA. Plants from list 2005 Station House Nurseries Burton Cheshire.

Cherry Pop: small fimbriated cactus white. Height 3ft 6inch this has plenty of petal and clean colour. Plants from list 2005 Station House Nurseries Burton Cheshire.

 Lakeland Sunset: small cactus golden bronze blends. Height 4ft 6inch, outstanding new small cactus. This dahlia was shown around last year by the raiser, Brian Warriner from Barrow in Furness. I saw this growing on his plot, all I can say is that if you are after another cactus for multi vase classes then this must be considered and will be in demand.  Plants from list 2005 Station House Nurseries Burton Cheshire.

April Heather: collerette yellow heavily suffused with apricot. Beautiful collerette from Australia, nothing quite like it. I saw this a Leeds trials looked good, on strong stems. Height 3ft 6inch, plants or tubers from Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. List 2005.

Fairfield Frost: collerette pure white of excellent formation, already making its mark in the North East. Raised by Vic Hardy in the North East. Plants or tubers from Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. List 2005.

Teasbrooke Redeye: collerette a complete colour break in this section. Lovely lavender with lavender collar. Central disc starts off reddish tan gradually changes to yellow. Foliage is deeply serrated, height 3ft 6inch. Raised by Phil Orley  from Hartlepool Cleveland. Plants or tubers from Halls of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland. List 2005.

Pathfinder Orange, Purple, Red and Lilac: all deep dark leaf singles. Height 3ft 6inch, all have a dark disc in the centre turning to yellow. In my winning exhibits at Shepton Mallet and Harrogate 2004, raised by JRG Dahlias from Cumbria. Tubers from JRG Dahlias 22, Summerville Rd, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

Jack Gott

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Can You help The Society
Blooms are needed for the Arthur Luck Challenge Trophy for Affiliated Societies Class at Harrogate Show.
How many plants can you grow aimed at the Harrogate Show date?_____plants.
From which group of dahlias do you wish to grow?
Giants Dec, Cactus, Semi Cactus
Large Dec, Cactus, Semi Cactus
Medium Dec, Cactus, Semi Cactus
Small Dec, Cactus, Semi Cactus
Miniature Dec, Cactus, Semi Cactus
Pompons
Ball Small or Miniature
Do you grow under covers? YES / NO
Can you help in any other way
If YES please state (i.e. Transport etc)

If you can help get in touch with the Secretary Graham McFarland  
at < graham.macfarlane@baesystems.com >
With your name and How you can help

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Quiz From Dave Spencer's Lecture
At the lecture by Dave Spencer all who attended received a copy of a quiz, now is your chance to see how much you do or do not know by completing the following two parts.
Answers further down this news letter.
Names of Dahlias
1, Lancashire lass not in the sunlight_________________________
2, Solid  gold or silver ____________________________
3, Clint kept in the dark________________________
4, Fifties warbler__________________________
5, A monarch in Cumbria__________________
6, Better than never___________________
7, Is this planet a rambler__________________
8, Soccer chief_______________________
9, A horse_________________________
10, Did Peter Pan visit here

By whom and when were the following varieties released
1, Willo's Night______________________
2, Tahiti Sunrise______________________
3, Rothsay Robin_______________________
4, Barbarry Chevron_________________________
5, Hillcrest Bobbin___________________________
6, Hillcrest Suffusion_________________________
7, Daleko Venus_____________________________
8, Hamari Bride______________________________
9, Kenora Majestic____________________________
10, Pink Pastelle______________________________

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Extract From The Past

National Dahlia Society Judging Examination 1980
This event was held in our area---Carlisle to be precise---for the first time and I am very pleased to report that two of our Penrith members, namely Fred Whitfield and Stan Rylands, were successful, as well as our St Helens member Don Sutcliffe which was very good as under 25% were successful.
Special thanks are due to Alan Rowntree and his friend who were responsible for supplying and transporting the tables for staging and collecting same after the examination and taking them back to Brampton.
Thanks are also due to Les Foden, Ronnie Nelson, Maurice Topham, Bill Ronson, Eric Dixon and Stan Rylands who supplied blooms towards the examination, to Maurice Topham, Ronny Nelson and Stan Rylands for transporting and helping to stage the exhibits for the examination.
To Shirley Harvey, Frances Rylands and Beryl Ronson a very special debt of gratitude is owed for their Sterling work in being in attendance all day, making tea and biscuit for all the participants, examiners and for Bill Ronson and myself and also making lunch for the examiners.
Also to the majority of the aforementioned who helped to clear up at the end of the show.
I am extremely pleased to announce that about 200 to 300 blooms which were in respectable condition at the end of the examination were sent to the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
All in all an extremely good effort by all concerned, considering the extremely short notice we received as to the requirements needed.

Extracts from an original article By Fred Currie 1980

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Welsh Dahlia Soc the results from there trials for 2004
The Welsh Dahlia Trials are hosted by Pencoed College just of the M4 junction 35.
This year on the trials ground there were 52 varieties of dahlias of all types, with the assistance of Iver Mace and his team they had the task of looking after them all, as the judging team checked the dahlias for quality of the flower at each time they were judged, all they have to go by is a number by each variety of plant so no one knows the name of the dahlia until the end of the judging, these are judged over a number of weeks for there performance.
The overall winner of the trials receive a miners lamp.
This years winner of the lamp was Mr Eric Thompson from Rockcliffe Nr Flint North Whales, with his raising of a medium decorative dahlia named Rockcliffe Belle a nice deep pink flower.
2^nd place went to Greenway Joy a deep pink small ball dahlia raised by Mr M S Johnson from Crediton Devon.
3^rd place went to April Heather pink with a yellow flush and white collar a nice collerette that I think will do well on the show bench, raised by Mr Stan Hall from Halls of Heddon on the Wall Northumberland.
4^th place went to Gwyneth bronze waterlily raised by Station House Nursery’s from Burton South Wirral Cheshire.
The section for USA seedlings was won by Camano Honey orange to yellow blends Medium Decorative raised by Dick and Susan Ambrose from Camano Island USA.
2^nd was SB Fiesta red small decorative raised by Steve and Sandie Boley from Seattle USA. The overseas winner was Anna Lindh a white medium waterlily raised in Holland by J Geerling.
2^nd Geerling Pimpernel red medium decorative also from Holland.
To get to see all the photos from the Welsh trials you can see them on Ivor Mace web site www.ivormace.com click on dahlia trials then you can see all 52 varieties, or you can get a DVD, CD for £5:00 from the Welsh Dahlia Society, 12, South View, Bryncae, Llanharan, Rhondda, Cynontaff, CF72 9RG.
 Eric Payne

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Silver Medal
Eric Payne from Neath South Whales received the National Dahlia Society silver medal for his work with the dahlia over the last 30 years, presented to him by the Welsh Dahlia Society. Congratulations go out to Eric who is well respected in the dahlia sector, not just in United Kingdom but in the World 

Jack Gott     

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Extract From The Past

London Show 1972
My friends Mr R Nelson and Mr J Goodman having been asked to judge at this show, I thought I could gain valuable experience by accompanying them as a steward, and I was duly appointed.
We left Carnforth on the night train arrived in London about 3 am. A cuppa was very welcome when we arrived at Euston.
There were so many people sleeping on the floor in the station that it really opened your eyes. Seeing is believing.
On leaving the station we asked a policeman the way to Covent Garden, deciding we would like to see the flower market.
He said 'All you are going for is to have a drink at the Campbell Bar which is open all night'.
We walked round 'The Garden' and saw all the flowers being unpacked.
Quite a site.
Also all the refrigerated vegetable lorries.
We never did find the bar, so pressed on to the show, via Trafalgar Square and Nelsons Column, were there were a few hippies asleep on the grass.
Down Whitehall, past the Cenotaph (I Should have liked to lay some dahlias there) to the Houses of parliament and London Bridge.
If we had known we were going to have such an early frost we all might have jumped off into the Thames.
The Westminster Abbey and eventually the R.H.S. Hall after about three hours walking around and a good look at the Metropolis in the early morning.
It was quite a change to see other people setting up their exhibit, dashing around changing blooms.
The standard was very good, but taking blooms down there.
The giant and large decs were very good, but they can't get them to the size that our exhibitors can.
Medium decs and cactus were very good indeed, clean, but again not to the full size.
However First Lady was excellent.
Small cactus classes were very strong and good.
Small dec very weak indeed.
Ball and mini ball classes good, but poms were very good indeed and I should not like to tangle with these boys at all.
There is just one thing I would like to know and that is if the National Dahlia Society are going to do anything about the use of welding rods up the stems of dahlias.
We stood there and watched one of our top exhibitors, and judge himself, very skilfully manipulate the rod up the stem, angling the bloom correctly.
This was done openly in front of everyone.
The people who were going to judge were there, so they must have known it was happening.
Mother Nature
Cutting a few flowers from my dahlia bed on October 3rd, I came to a row of Pink Marc, and there before my eyes was a dahlia with two heads on one stalk.
I shook my head and tried to think what I had been drinking the night before, as it must have been a drop of good beer.
On reflection I realised that I hadn't been out, so I called my mother to come and see.
she confirmed that there were two heads and on taking a closer look I saw that there was only one stem but this was really two joined together.
The heads were back to back and going down the row I found another one.

this had one flower fully open and the other was just a bud showing colour, the stalk being the same as the other.

this was too much, so I went indoors for my camera and took some photographs of them.
still not convinced I went down for Ron Nelson and he said he hadn't seen anything like it before.
Has anyone else had this happen? maybe it is the season (best forgotten) that has caused it.
Extracted from Maurice Topham's article 1972

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Stop Press
Jack Gott just received two silver medals from Shepton Mallet for best vase of Collerettes and best vase of Waterlilys

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Answers To The quiz
Find The Name Of The Dahlia
1, Barbara's Pastelle
2, Hallmark
3, Eastwood Moonlight
4, Doris Day
5, Hillcrest Royal
6, L.A.T.E
7, Rose Jupiter
8, Sir Alf Ramsey
9, Suffolk Punch
10, Wendy's Place

By Whom And When Were The Following Varieties Released
1, S Ogg                          1960
2, G Cox                         1975
3, A Lister                       1968
4, B Davies                      1996
5, L Jackson                    1992
6, L Jackson                    1991
7, G Kezywycki               1975
8, H Ensum                      1968
9, G Laroux                     2001
10, T Pashley                   1991

Photos On The Sheet
1, Bert Wiseman
2, Mr and Mrs Dale
3, Don Suttcliffe
4, Barry Davies
5, Stan Hall
6, Joe Batten
7, Phil Damp
8, Derek Hewlett
9, Jim Whitton
10, Frank Newberry

Trophies On The Sheet
1, Widdowson
2, Crane Cup
3, Maurice Lord
4, G F Drayson
5, Herbet Brown

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Trip To The Caribbean
On Saturday 3rd April Hilary and I set off from home to Manchester airport to fly to the Caribbean for a two week cruise.
Leaving Manchester at 9.30am for a nine hour flight to the Dominican Republic, arriving at 1.30, a fifteen minute bus ride took us to our cruiser (Sunbird).
We sailed all Saturday night, all day Sunday and all Sunday night down to Antigua, 108 square miles in size and a population of 80,000, temperature 100 degrees, a big change from back home.
The capital St Johns was like a shanty town, the heat was over powering so we went on board, relaxing on the sun beds in the shade.
We set sail Monday night for St Kitts a smaller island of only 65 square miles and a population of 48,000.
We went ashore and went on a mini bus tour of the island the temperature still the same.
On Wednesday we visited St Thomas after sailing over night, again another small island of 32 square miles and population of 56,000.
St Thomas lies 60 miles east of Puerto Rico, once more we did an island tour.
Thursday it was San Juan, Puerto Rico this is a much bigger island 34 square miles with 272 miles of coastline and a population of 3.7 million.
Today we toured the Atlantic coast.
The Bacardi Rum Distillery is at San Juan.
Friday we had a lazy day on the Catauna Island, this is a real desert island all sandy beaches full of sun beds and sun shades.
Saturday back at La Roman the port we sailed from to restock for the next weeks cruise.
Set sail again Saturday night down to St Lucia in readiness to go ashore on Monday.
St Lucia is 38 square miles and the population is 140,000.
Today we took a boat ride to the south end of the island, to the pitons, two pointed hills, then up into the sulphur volcano.
On Tuesday we visited Barbados up the Gold Coast where the rich and famous stay, then down the Atlantic coast through the cotton fields.
Barbados has a population of 260,000 and covers 166 square miles.
Wednesday we toured Dominica another volcanic island of 298 square miles and a population of 74,000.
On Thursday we visited St Maarten, 37 square miles and a population of 57,000 live in Dutch St Maarten, 25,000 in the French St Maarten.
On Friday our last port of call Tortola, this is a small island of 21 square miles and population of 12,000.
This was the best island for shopping as all the others were full of diamond and leather shops.
The temperature was in the high nineties to 100 degrees for the full two weeks.
The Subird was a fantastic ship, food dished up all day long and night as well.
Good cabaret shows and the cabins were spotless.
All for £1,300 each, plus extra for more leg room on the plane each way.
What more can one want.
A holiday of a liftime, if you get the chance I say go.
Fantastic.
PS. Guess what, when we arrived back at Manchester at 4 in the morning it was pouring down.
George Towler

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North West Show Results 2004