Throughout the war years the Research Station escaped enemy damage. The most exciting event was the capture of a fugitive barrage balloon with a trailing cable which narrowly missed the greenhouses and meteorological instruments.
Maintaining a ‘Nucleus Station’ during wartime made it possible to resume development work almost immediately. Although the exceptionally heavy snowfalls experienced in the early part of 1947 delayed advisory work. Staff were re-appointed, John Escritt as Chemist and R Libbey as Chief Advisory Officer. Two new advisors were taken on, Peter Jefferson and Jim Arthur. Carl Bretherton took the Chair of the Board of Management. The Scientific Advisory Committee was reinstated under the new Chairmanship of Dr J A Hanley.
The benefits of the station’s work over the last 19 years were now being put into practice.
“..much of the information gleaned from the work of STRI is now being assimilated into general practice for turf upkeep” R B Dawson 1948
Clubs demonstrated a keen desire to obtain sound independent advice. The volume of advisory work increased each year. In addition to golf all sports turf users now turned to the Institute for advice including Public Authorities and the new Industrial Welfare Organisations. Visits extended beyond UK shores to Ireland, Belgium including a visit to H M Leopold’s private golf course, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Sweden.
Advice was sought on mini golf courses, a new fashion; the reconstruction of Leicester City’s pitch and Bristol Rovers pitch at Eastville; and from the stadiums at Wembley, Twickenham and White City; plus the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon.
By 1950:
In 1950 on September 14th, 15th and 16th the station celebrated 21 years with speeches, exhibitions and displays charting its progress since 1929.
The fields in front of the offices and laboratories were decked with marquees, the trials grounds were all marked out, with advisory and technical staff on hand to answer questions.
Twenty five trade companies provided a turf machinery exhibition with working models.
800 visitors attended over the three days and the official opening ceremony was conducted by Rt Hon The Lord Brabazon of Tara. Members of the official party included both the founders Perry Clough and Norman Hackett and Mr A Brookhirst, Chairman of the Football Association, was principal guest. The Lord Mayors of both Keighley and Bradford were invited.
To mark the occasion a new chemistry laboratory was installed under the supervision of John Escritt.
In 1951 the Board of Greenkeeping Research underwent a major constitutional change and re-organisation.
The growth of work in sports turf for rugby, football, bowls, cricket, horse racing and tennis brought about the incorporation of The Sports Turf Research Institute on 3rd September 1951. The new title described more accurately the scope of work undertaken and the station’s desire to be of assistance to all users of turf surfaces.
The former Board was extended to 18 seats. Twelve were held by the original representatives from golf and six included representation from:
It was anticipated that other interested sports bodies would also take up membership in the future.
The original aims and objectives were unaltered and the station remained the only independent organisation of its kind in Europe, with no funding from government or assistance from public funds.
This new development caused some unfounded suspicion and concern amongst a number of golf clubs, who believed that the station’s work would be primarily directed towards sports turf rather than golf courses.
Coinciding with the new constitution the Sports Turf Bulletin (forerunner to the International Turfgrass Bulletin) was born. The growth in sports turf work lead to an increase in the circulation of the Journal. This wider readership demanded a more diverse and broader subject matter in addition to the golf coverage. To address the need for information of a more practical and technical nature in 1949 a printed leaflet was produced. This leaflet was initially sent free to all subscribing golf clubs at monthly intervals. These leaflets were very successful and so in 1951 the leaflet became The Sports Turf Bulletin. The distribution was increased to include all sports clubs and public authorities.
In May 1952 increased postal costs and the high cost of paper and production - £375 for 12 issues – forced a reduction from twelve issues to four a year.
With operations now well underway and 1,500 plots under trial a new labelling system was introduced to provide more detailed information for visitors. The station was open to visitors every Wednesday afternoon without appointment.
1947 – Two trials generated outstanding results:-
New Synthetic Insecticides – DDT and Gammexane – proved highly successful in exterminating and controlling leatherjackets.
Selective Weedkillers – The introduction of growth regulators enabled large-scale reduction of weeds for the first time, opening up a new era in weed control.
As a result of these trials providing reliable information on rates of application and timings it was possible to recommend the use of growth regulating substances for cleaning weedy turf on sports grounds, fairways and large turf areas. A number of spraying contractors were also prepared to quote for treatment of large areas.
Trials were extended to off site locations, where under the guidance of the research team various clubs carried out trial work under practical conditions.
1949 –1950 – New experimental plots were laid down. The trials grounds now extended to 10 acres with 10 acres in reserve.
International currency difficulties and the reduction of imports to the UK created a serious shortage of fine grass seeds for sports turf. Imports of Browntop and Chewing’s fescue from New Zealand, the chief commercial source for fine fescues and bents, were banned despite protestations to the Treasurer. World demand for reduced supplies lead to sharp price increases.
To help combat these problems investigations were carried out into establishing turf using low seed rates. However, the results confirmed a long held view that Browntop was an essential bottom grass in all mixtures.
1951 – Pioneering research was started by John Escritt into electrical soil warming as an anti-frost deterrent. Grants were provided by the Football Association, Football League and Lawn Tennis Association. Equipment was supplied by the General Electric Company and trials were carried out for football, rugby and greyhound racing.
Experimental plots now totalled 1600 under the watchful eye of Frank Smith, Superintendent of Grounds.
A new biology laboratory was established and J Drew-Smith was appointed as the Institute’s first Plant Pathologist on 1st September 1951.
