100 Years Young - George Rolfe
26th October 2011
On Monday 24th October, 2011, George Rolfe, a long standing allotment holder at Melbourne Park Allotments celebrated his 100th birthday. Although George has not had the best of health recently, his family, friends and plot holders from the allotments gathered at his home on Monday to congratulate him on reaching his centenary.
George only retired from the allotments in June 2006, at a spritely 95 years of age, but has since kept his associate membership of the association following retirement.
George worked at Hoffman Ball Bearing Company, Chelmsford, a landmark manufacturing site in the town. Apart from growing vegetables of his allotment, he was a well known exhibitor of chrysanthemums and sweat peas, winning many cups, medals and trophies throughout Essex and into London.
Many of his exhibits were grown in the back garden and George recalls one specific morning of an important flower competition where the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down. With the chrysanthemums in the garden about to be cut, he mustered family and neighbours to hold blankets over the flowers to stop damage to the blooms. He went on later that afternoon to win a gold medal with his entries.
George can be seen on the right of both of the images attached to this article.
From everyone at the allotment association, on such a momentous occasion, our congratulations to George.
George only retired from the allotments in June 2006, at a spritely 95 years of age, but has since kept his associate membership of the association following retirement.
George worked at Hoffman Ball Bearing Company, Chelmsford, a landmark manufacturing site in the town. Apart from growing vegetables of his allotment, he was a well known exhibitor of chrysanthemums and sweat peas, winning many cups, medals and trophies throughout Essex and into London.
Many of his exhibits were grown in the back garden and George recalls one specific morning of an important flower competition where the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down. With the chrysanthemums in the garden about to be cut, he mustered family and neighbours to hold blankets over the flowers to stop damage to the blooms. He went on later that afternoon to win a gold medal with his entries.
George can be seen on the right of both of the images attached to this article.
From everyone at the allotment association, on such a momentous occasion, our congratulations to George.