Honorary Fellows of the Society
This new page will eventually contain information on all Honorary Fellows of this Society, past, present and future.
Present
Fiona Woolfenden
Ken Woolfenden
Raymond Evison
Past
Mary Toomey
Brewster Rogerson
Brother Stefan Franczak
Kazushige Ozawa
Jim Fisk
Magnus Johnson
Ann Harvey
Fiona Woolfenden
Appointed by C.G.M. held online in 2025.Citation
Fiona has been involved in the clematis world for decades growing over 100 clematis in her garden. She has been secretary of both the Great Britain and Ireland Branch of IClS and the British Clematis Society. We were fortunate to have her elected as the Honorary Secretary of IClS in 1994, a role she still fills. As Honorary Secretary Fiona’s organizational skills have kept the society on track and moving forward. She has been the steady hand that has coordinated our international group. In her role over the years, she has kept up with membership, produced newsletters, recorded minutes of Council Meetings and Constitutional General Meetings. Most importantly Fiona has kept an accurate record of the Council Action List which tracks our accomplishments.In addition to her duties as secretary, Fiona scheduled articles for the websites Clematis of the Month including writing 43 articles herself. She has also planned conferences, given lectures and webinars, helps Ken with the production and mailing of the journal to which she is also a contributing author. Fiona is the voice of the society to the clematis community beyond the society. She responds to correspondence, frequently answering questions and posting on social media of Facebook and Instagram. Fiona was awarded the Golden Clematis Award in 2013 for devoting a tremendous amount of her time, energy and creativity. Fiona is the heart and soul of the Society. Her loyal service to the society over the years and her sharing of her knowledge of clematis to the greater world is why I am nominating Fiona Woolfenden to be approved as an Honorary Fellow. Nominated by Lyndy Broder, seconded by Linda Beutler.
Ken Woolfenden
Appointed by C.G.M. held online in 2025.Citation
We must credit Ken Woolfenden for his thoughtful gift of membership for ICLS in 1987 to his wife Fiona. Ken’s love of photography and computers has benefitted the Society for decades. Ken created our very first website in 1996 and he has been our webmaster ever since expanding our website from its initial seven pages to the comprehensive site it is today. Ken became the Honorary Editor of our “Clematis International” Journal in 2001. He has continued to produce high quality educational journals for a quarter of a century. In addition to editing the journal, Ken has written many articles, and his photography is an essential aspect of every journal. He will produce his 25th journal this year. In addition, Ken has been active in assisting with our webinars, planning, organizing and documenting international conferences and other activities too numerous to list. Ken was awarded the Golden Clematis Award in 2013. In our time of need, Ken volunteered to be our treasurer as we transition from the UK to the US. Both the website and the journals have benefited the Society and the international community of clematis fanatics. That is why I am nominating Ken Woolfenden to be approved as an Honorary Fellow. Nominated by Lyndy Broder, seconded by Linda Beutler.
Raymond Evison
Appointed by C.G.M. in Cambridge, Great Britain in 2004.Citation
Raymond founded the International Clematis Society in 1984, 20 years ago. Despite a very demanding business life, he actively supports the Society and frequently finds time to attend Society Conferences, often giving presentations. In this our 20th Anniversary Year, the Council wished to acknowledge his contribution to the Society by the award of Honorary Fellowship. [Clematis International 2005, page 14]
Mary Toomey
Appointed by C.G.M. in Portland, Oregon, USA in 2010, proposed by Szczepan Marczyński, Poland, seconded by Bengt Sundström, Sweden.
Died 26th May 2022Citation
Mary Toomey has been interested in Clematis and promoted them personally and as a member of British Clematis Society and International Clematis Society for many years. She has written numerous articles on Clematis, many of which have been published in our "Clematis International" journal. She is an author and a co-author of three books, two of them "An illustrated Encyclopaedia of Clematis" and "Timber Press Pocket Guide to Clematis" are especially renowned and a basic reference of information on Clematis for many people. Mary Toomey has also contributed significantly to the final version of Magnus Johnson's "The Genus Clematis" book in English. Her biological education and academic experience have been of great value in all these publications.Mary Toomey has given lectures on Clematis and other plants of Ranunculace family in many countries around the world, as well as during IClS conference meetings. They have always kindled strong interested and her lectures in the USA and Canada were especially popular.
Together with the Ranunculace Society, Mary Toomey has organized a very interesting conference and a trip to Ireland for the I.Cl.S and has prepared numerous interesting trips, meetings and presentations within the framework of the British Clematis Society, in which the IClS members participated.
Her work as a breeder is also noteworthy: she has bred and introduced the valuable Clematis montana 'Tsunami Child' variety.
Taking the above mentioned information into consideration, I would like to nominate Dr Mary Toomey for the position of Honorary Fellow of the International Clematis Society.
Brewster Rogerson
Appointed by C.G.M. in Warsaw, Poland in 2002.
Died 26th May 2015.Citation
Brewster has enthused many people to grow Clematis including a large number of our North American Members as well as founding the North West Pacific Clematis Society. Every month he works hard for the IClS Web Site to produce an interesting description for the Clematis of the Month. [Clematis International 2003, page 14]
Brother Stefan Franczak
Appointed in 2004.
Died 6th July 2009.
Kazushige Ozawa
Appointed in 1998.
Died 27th December 2003.
Jim Fisk
Appointed in 1996.
Died 17th August 2004.
Magnus Johnson
Appointed prior to 1994.
Died 25th April 2002.
Return to top of pageAnne Harvey
Appointed prior to 1994.
Died 17th January 1999.
