Matt Shipley, co-founder of Community Greening, demonstrates the proper way to plant a tree during a tree-planting event at Boynton Beach Fire Station No. 2. The city, working in conjunction with Community Greening and the St. George’s Society of Palm Beach, hosted the event. The St. George’s Society donated the cost of the trees, a combination of crape myrtle, gumbo limbo, royal poinciana, verawood and kapok. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Tao Woolfe
Every social club has interesting members, but at how many luncheons will you be seated next to a former British parliamentarian who has played polo with King Charles III and danced three times with Queen Elizabeth II?
John Browne, a historian and economist, is the official patron of the St. George’s Society of Palm Beach. At a recent 16th anniversary luncheon for the club, he regaled his fellow members with tales of Winston Churchill and mishaps at royal weddings, his words wrapped in a rich, plummy accent.
The St. George’s members donate money to a variety of charitable causes. Recently, they have focused on environmental efforts — planting trees locally and across the pond.
In the past two years, the group donated:
• 1,000 trees to the city of Liverpool.
• 10,000 trees to Tanzania.
• 37 flowering trees to Boynton Beach.
• 96 trees to Scotland to honor the memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
• Five flowering trees each to Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
“I always wanted to do more environmentally,” said Boynton Beach resident Susan Oyer, a Realtor who founded the Palm Beach club in 2007.
But it wasn’t until 2021 — when the British created the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to honor Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as monarch — that Oyer found the impetus to plant trees locally.
Browne, who enjoys visiting with fellow British expats and the American members of the St. George’s Society, said he went along for the West Palm Beach planting last December, but he didn’t stay for long.
“It was a very threatening day, very scary,” he said. “It was sunny, but there was a thunderclap, totally unexpected — a bolt out of the blue.”
Browne took cover.
“You don’t want to take lightning lightly,” he said with a chuckle.
St. George is not only the patron saint of England, he is also the patron of soldiers, knights, archers, saddlers and horses, according to legend. His presence is invoked in cases of plague, leprosy and horse fever.
There are St. George’s societies all over the world that celebrate England’s history and royalty, and besides throwing good parties, they engage in philanthropy.
Oyer describes the Palm Beach club this way:
“Fueled by a passionate membership community, we create a social outlet that cultivates a sense of belonging and celebrates our uniquely British roots, all while supporting our philanthropic purpose.
“Among the objectives of the society is providing support for educational, social and cultural efforts in England through activities and fundraising in Palm Beach County.”
Joy Inch, who lives in Jupiter, said she and her husband, Peter, enjoy meeting up with other members of the club and attending the club’s events and lectures.
“We just like the sociality and the talks about England,” Joy Inch said.
Marian Morgan, a Boynton Beach resident, is also a founding member of the local St. George’s Society.
“It’s my heritage and I go back to England often,” Morgan said.
She said she and Oyer would drive down to the Fort Lauderdale St. George’s Society for events many years ago, but decided it would be better to form a Palm Beach chapter.
“It started and then took off. Our early meetings were in Boca,” Morgan said. “I supported it and I love it.”
The club also supports Florida Atlantic University’s history department, especially the British studies program. Many of the club’s guest speakers are part of the history department, Oyer said.
In 2016, the club donated $7,000 to FAU’s British studies program.
Oyer said the club’s 75 members have not yet discussed where the club will next direct its fundraising efforts. She said she would like to continue to make environmental contributions, especially since that area is a priority of the royals.
Oyer said the club’s “Walk in the Forest” tree planting project “turned out to be a great success, despite COVID’s constant interference. It was a perfect way to honor the new king.”
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