The Friendly Society At All Levels
Jeff came and told me if you are going to have a go at showing, you need to grow them two feet apart, thinking I knew more than I did he never mentioned the paths.
My first dahlia plot was about 20ft by 20ft or 10 plants by 10 plants.
The plants were soon growing and a couple of feet high and I was very pleased with them.
Down came Jeff, your dahlias are looking good lad he said, but how are you going to get the ones in the middle without flattening more than you cut.
He then knew advice was needed and gave it step by step.
 I had my first win that year in the novice section. I think I put them in the open class and they were moved to give me a win and kick start.
 I took the dahlias to the show on the back of my pickup, it was less than half a mile and a good day.
I later learned that Jimmy Jones had said, somebody had better tell that lad you can not take dahlias to a show like that.
Not many wins that year, I was beaten in the novice section at Barrow show, there were only two of us in it and I came second, the winner will only be named on request.
So a Bedford van from the electric board was purchased and loads of advice and lectures through the winter prepared me for the spring.
 Id learned to take cuttings but each week I would ask what’s the right size for a good cutting, as they were all coming up differently as they do.
Full of high expectations my dahlias where going to be world beaters, perfect blooms in my mind with no problems envisaged.
 I still love this time of the year had a good year with wins in the club shows in the open but not daring to have a go on the Furness table with the real dahlia growers, they all encouraged me and gave lots of advice and help.
 Graham McFarlane told me about how they had to cover in Scotland and that I needed to build a cover to do any good. 
A small cover was built that winter just big enough for thirty plants, ten Evelyn Foster and twenty Cloverdale. 
I started to get things right and had a wonderful year winning at every show and winning the Furness table at the year end.
 There was still plenty of advice being given to me on staging and all aspects of growing and showing dahlias by all the Furness growers.
 The next year I had my first crack at Southport where again help and advice from Jack Gott and Ron Nelson paid off and one first card won.
 You can have a great night at a show like Southport when you are starting out listening to all the good growers.
 Ron Nelson was pure magic, advice, tall tails, wise cracks, and hot tea all flowed and made a cold night fly by and will never be forgotten. 
This is how I went on to win a championship at Southport and show at national level. 
There is nothing to match dahlia growing and showing for the friendly but competitive atmosphere. From what other hobby will you get good stock of a variety from a fellow competitor and advice on how to grow that variety to get the best results.
Only in the Dahlia societies I think.

Bryan Warriner