Having graduated from Edinburgh and married, I entered teaching, a course I followed in a variety of schools culminating in 25 years in a South Bristol Boys Comprehensive School: missionary work.

I moved into Somerset six years before retirement putting the Mendip between home and workplace. I soon became Chairman of Wells & District Gardening Club where my wife Jane was already Treasurer.

Shortly afterwards I offered to become Secretary of the SFGC and remained so for over twenty years.

Jane and I share interests in roses, particularly old-fashioned varieties, wildlife, historical churches, gardens and folk in general.

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Having spent almost forty years employed in the Leisure Industry and the last of those ten years with the Rank Organisation as MD for three of their companies, I retired in May 2000.

In 2003 Mo and I became the founder members of a new Garden Group here in Holford and in 2007 our club joined the Federation.

In 2009 we were voted onto their committee and two years later in 2011, I became chairman. I have seen many changes during those fourteen years with technology replacing many of the manual functions that we used in previous years.

We have a committee of seven, all of whom I regard as friends.

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I live in North Somerset with my wife Marjorie. I retired in 2005 at the age of 65 after being in the Agricultural Machinery retail trade for 45 years.

As well as being treasurer for the Federation I have also served as a trustee for our local Village Hall, being treasurer and chairman at different times. Having an interest in gardening got me involved in Sandford Gardening Club for which I have been treasurer for many years and recently as Chairman.

I have a passion for growing plants, mainly propagating herbaceous perennials from seed which contribute to our Gardening Club annual plant sale. I also enjoy growing and exhibiting flowers and vegetables at our Spring and Summer Shows, watching our local cricket team and going to live jazz sessions.

Ever since my first garden in 1971 gardening, particularly vegetable gardening, have been a passionate hobby. I have been lucky enough to live with either an allotment or a garden ever since. I became an organic gardener 45 years ago.

We moved to our present house in 1993 where I was able to keep hens, ducks, geese and pigs. With the help of a longsuffering husband, we fed our family mainly home grown fresh food until our children left home and we reduced the livestock to a few hens.

Nowadays it gives us great pleasure to watch the grandchildren picking fruit and veg and enjoying helping in the garden. 

Since I left school (many years ago!) I have always worked in administration; at first in a London solicitor’s office, then in publishing and lastly as a secretary within the entertainment industry.Just before retiring to the West Country in 1997, I dallied in antiques, but gardening has always been a favourite pastime.

Since joining the SFGC committee I have maintained the database for all member clubs, updating and sending out information - these days of course by email - including the Magazines, notices for the AGM and any other information required for our members.

I am normally the first port of call for any enquiries, so I especially enjoy attending the AGM’s but because of the time we now live in  - a world of modern technology - it is always so nice, and a pleasure, to meet people and put names to faces, whom I liaise with during the course of a year.  

With a lifelong passion for technical challenges, I find great fulfilment in managing the SFGC website and producing the Federation magazine. My career began with 22 years in the Army, serving as a technician in the Royal Signals. After transitioning to civilian life, I spent two decades supporting Asda stores across the South Coast and Southwest, optimizing their operations and profitability.

Following the loss of my wife in 2021, I now support local Dementia organisations, serving as a treasurer and trustee. 

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After 35 years working in Aerospace and Automotive engineering, first in engineering analysis, then for the last 20 years as a Project Manager of engineering projects, I retired at the end of 2017.

Since then, I’ve enjoyed working with my husband to complete our self-build home and garden near Bath.

I coordinate a team of volunteers to maintain our local community garden of 1 acre.

I’m currently working with David Talling to produce a new website for the SFGC. I am also acting Secretary until someone can be found to fulfil that role.