The Orchid Review

Its subject matter includes: The Orchid Review was founded by Robert Allen Rolfe who single-handedly produced and edited 28 volumes.

Rolfe worked in the orchid herbarium at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew[3] but there was no mention in the periodical of his position there and his name never appeared on the title page.

Reports of visits to notable collections were a regular feature, the first was to Sir Trevor Lawrence at Burford Lodge, Dorking, Surrey.

‘The Calendar of Operations’ outlined the tasks for the month ahead and was for the first year written by Lawrence’s gardener, W.H.

On 5 July 1921 a new company, The Orchid Review Ltd, was incorporated and a new editor, Alfred Gurney Wilson (1878–1957), was appointed.

During Wilson’s tenure strong links were developed with orchid enthusiasts in the United States.

Blowers, who was orchid grower for the Honourable Nellie Ionides at Buxted Park, East Sussex, became editor after Curtis’s death and his first issue appeared in May 1958.

Publication deadlines were a constant challenge due to repeated postal strikes, power cuts and a three-day working week.

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust agreed to support the colour reproduction and the directors, together with Eric Young and Lady Lisa Sainsbury, put up substantial amounts of personal cash to offset the continuing deficit.

[9] She worked with her brother Brian in the family business, Burnham Nurseries, at Kingsteignton in Devon.

One major improvement during Bailes’s editorship was the significant increase of colour in each issue, partly financed by donations to a 'colour fund'.

In March 1988 an agreement was reached for the Royal Horticultural Society to hold a quarter of the shares and pay £4,000 annually towards the costs.

[11] In autumn of the same year Bailes left the Eric Young Orchid Foundation and became curator of RHS Garden Rosemoor, but remained editor until the end of 1989.

At the end of 1992 the Royal Horticultural Society agreed to take on full responsibility for the technically insolvent publication.

[15] The board of directors was dissolved, the company wound up and the Royal Horticultural Society selected Wilma Rittershausen to return as the new editor.

Before 2005 colour could only be on every other double page until the Royal Horticultural Society's publications department in Peterborough undertook the design.

Robert Allen Rolfe 1893–1921 Alfred Gurney Wilson 1921–1932 Charles Curtis 1933–1958 John Blowers 1958–1969 & 1990–1991 David Sander 1970–1974 Brian Williams 1974–1978 Wilma Rittershausen 1978–1985 & 1993–2000 Christopher Bailes 1986–1989 Phil Seaton 1992–1993 Henry Oakeley Jan.–Mar.