Arthur Cornell 1921 - 2023

Dear Members

It is with the great sadness we have to report the passing of our Honorary President Arthur Cornell. He passed peacefully overnight, aged 101.

Arthur was one of the original founders of the current Allotment Association as we know it now, and was also one of the founding plot holders when the original plots of land were distributed post war in 1947. Arthur served in the Middle East and Europe during the second world war, and was part of the coalition and allied forces who helped to liberate Italy. Even when he was serving, he recalled stating the first thing he was going to do when he de mobilised was to get an Allotment.

He and Ada were heavily involved at the site, regularly growing, exhibiting and winning local horticultural and show competitions on both a personal level and in company with the original Association. It was Arthur who convinced various plot holders in 2004 to re - start the Association and re - open the trading hut, and He and Ada could be seen on Saturday and Sunday whatever the weather conditions running the hut for the site. Despite the march of time, Arthur gave up his plot shortly after his 90th birhday and continued to maintain the small garden outside and run the trading hut until he finally hung up his trowel in 2017. Arthur recently paid for the welcome sign at the top of the site which the council erected which acknowledges he and Ada's 70 year contribution to the plots.

The Association and the site has much to thank and remember, and we send our sympathies and best wishes to Arthur's family.


At the early stages of the newly found Association, Tony and Arthur sat down to discuss what it was like on the allotment and how things had changed, and the text of this original exchange can be found and read by following the attached link.
Interview Arthur Cornell