The Society was founded in 1911 under the name of the Oulton Broad Gardening Association. Although little information is available about  its early days, it is known that all activities were suspended during the 1914-18 war years and that the Association was revived in 1919 in new headquarters at the Rock Institute in Oulton Broad, where it lived for many years. Monthly shows, plus an annual show in August was the general programme, usually at various locations in the district during the summer and at the Institute in the winter.

In 1936, the Association became the Oulton Broad and District Horticultural Society, this was subsequently amended by adding "Lowestoft" to give its current name in 1977.

From 1948, the Society held three shows a year, an early summer show in July, a summer show in August and a late chrysanthemum show in November. The Society's Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1961 with a very successful show in Nicholas Everitt Park, Oulton Broad, on August Bank Holiday. The then President, Mr Malcolm Humphrey, gave a magnificent silver punch bowl, to be known as the Jubilee Trophy. This is held for one year by the exhibitor with the highest number of first prizes at both the Society's shows.

Constitution

1. The Society shall be known as the Oulton Broad and Lowestoft Horticultural Society.

2. The objectives of the Society are to unite all those interested in gardening and allied pursuits and to encourage the cultivation of all kinds of plants in gardens, glasshouses and allotments and for the exhibition thereof.

3. The Society shall be affiliated to other societies, where such an affiliation will further the objectives of the Society.

4. The Society shall elect a President and Vice-Presidents. These offices shall be restricted to persons who have given outstanding service to the Society and whose names are recommended to the Annual General Meeting by the Executive Committee. They will hold office for one year following the A.G.M. and will be eligible for re- election. They shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Executive Committee, without the power to vote. Past Presidents shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.

5. The Society shall elect the following officers at its Annual General Meeting: - Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer . They will hold office for one year and be eligible for re-election. The A.G.M. shall also elect a Show Secretary, Assistant Show Secretary and Minuting Secretary, who shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. Additional officers for special duties may be elected by the Executive Committee.

6. The management of the Society's affairs shall be vested in the Officers and Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of a maximum of fifteen members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Members will be elected to serve for one year and shall be eligible for re-election.

7. The assets of the Society shall be vested in three Trustees, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Honorary Secretary shall act as Secretary to the Trustees.

8. Upon the winding up or dissolution of the Society, after satisfaction of all it’s debts and liabilities, all trophies shall be collected together by serving officers and shall be retained by one of those officers. All remaining funds shall be deposited at the Society’s bank with a copy of the constitution, and a record of who is holding the trophies until such time as the Society is recommenced. Members of the serving Committee and Trustees would be asked to form a caretaker committee for a period of ten (10) years in the hope that someone would be prepared to restart the Society, answerable to the said Committee for a period of 12 months from it re-commencing. In the event of no-one coming forward to restart the Oulton Broad & Lowestoft Horticultural Society, all trophies shall be sold and all assets distributed between the Members of the Society at the time of dissolution.

9. Nominations for Officers and Members of the Executive Committee, duly proposed, and seconded, and with the nominee's consent, should be sent to the Honorary Secretary prior to the Annual General Meeting. Nominations can only be accepted up to ten days prior to the A.G.M.

10. At any Committee meeting six members are required to form a quorum to conduct business. Any Committee Member who fails to attend three consecutive committee meetings, without reasons acceptable to the Committee, shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the Committee.

11. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint such Sub-Committees as it deems necessary from time to time, also to co-opt members to fill any casual vacancies arising during the year. A member so appointed shall retire at the following A.G.M.

12. The Annual General Meeting of the Society, together with the presentation of the Annual Awards shall take place in November each year, to receive the report of the Executive Committee, to approve and adopt the audited accounts for the financial year ending on the 30th September preceding, to elect Trustees, Officers and Members of the Executive Committee, to appoint the Honorary Auditor and to transact any other general business which is stated on the Agenda. Twenty members shall form a quorum.

13 The Executive Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting on receipt of a written request, signed by not less than ten members. Notice of such a meeting shall be circulated to all members by the Honorary Secretary, specifying the business to be transacted and giving at least seven days notice of the date and venue of the meeting.

14. Membership of the Society shall be open to all, for such minimum subscriptions as shall be decided from time to time in Annual General Meetings. Subscriptions shall be due and payable on January 1st. Members who fail to pay their subscriptions for one year shall be deemed to have ceased their membership.

15. The Society at its Annual General Meeting may elect any member or retiring member of the Society as Honorary Life Member, but such appointments are restricted to persons who have given distinguished service to the Society and whose names are submitted on a recommendation from the Executive Committee, The Committee may also recommend conferring the Office of Life Vice-President on any Honorary Life- Member.

16. No rule of the Society may be repealed or altered and no new rules may be made, save by a two-third majority of those present and voting at a General Meeting. Notice of any such proposals must be circulated to all members and appear on the agenda of the meeting.

Revised:- 15th November 2007