All the Presidents

George Lockie, President 1984 - 2004

Twenty years on from our inauguration, members have the pleasure of success - the establishment of a national body, achieving professional status in our industry.

Before the Institute's creation people interested in horticulture could enjoy some excellent training opportunities. A few private establishments and municipal parks provided practical experience; Botanic gardens, colleges, and some universities offered a variety of courses, The John Innes Institute and Wisley provided studentship and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a demanding examination. All these were pathways to careers in horticulture.

Prior to 1984, members of the then RHS examinations board (when diplomas were proliferating) recognised the need for an industry-wide opportunity to authenticate professional ability. It was my role to convey this view to the society's council. The President, Lord Aberconway, was supportive and agreed means for an open meeting at Vincent Square, at which there was general support by leading horticulturists. An inaugural meeting was held at Kew. At this memorable meeting, requiring the use of two halls, our Institute was established.

It was a time of rapid change, with an increasing public interest in horticultural products and plants for gardens. My experience, after studentship, was greatly expanded in a business producing and marketing 67 crops. Today, production is extensive in single and intensive cropping. Plant and garden product trade is geared to the massive garden centre business, requiring specialist horticultural skills in management and harmonising with media opportunities.

So today, the Institute should take pleasure in achieving an impressive membership, a most capable organisation and a strong editorial team.
George D Lockie OBE VMH FIHort (Hon)

Professor John Bleasdale, President 1985-1986

In the second year of the Institute's existence the priorities were recruitment and the establishment of high and appropriate standards for membership. Everybody wanted the Institute to represent the profession at the highest levels without any question as to its standing or integrity. We also established a regional structure in my time and this has proved to be a great strength. I am still disappointed that we found it impossible to establish a working relationship with the Journal of Horticultural Science. It was a journal without a learned society and we were a professional institute without a journal. Marriages shouldn't be forced but one can always hope.
The real highlight of my time is that we are still here!
Professor John K A Bleasdale CBE FI Hort

Vic Fowler, President 1986 -1987

During my presidency we were still wrestling with membership categories and I reckon it has taken about 15 years for the issue to be resolved. Whilst I was president the first contacts were made with the Shropshire Horticultural Society, in an attempt to find sponsorship for the Young Horticulturist of theYear competition (YHoY) but it was not until after my terms of office that the discussions were successfully concluded. As chairman of the YHoY committee and a trustee of the Percy Thrower Trust, I was able to obtain extra funding to develop a computerised scoring system for all branches. As to the future, I have always nurtured the belief that the finals of the YHOY competition could successfully be televised. If University Challenge and Mastermind can attract viable audiences, then surely this competition would attract a vast audience of gardeners in support of their regional representatives. With IoH contacts in the media this should be possible.
Vic Fowler FI Hort

John Simmons, President 1987 - 1988

My year started with extremes. The AGM was at Kew with Professor Bellamy attracting 400 members and guests, and just two weeks later the Great Storm hit gardens and parks in the South and East. The year itself was heavy with lecture commitments around the country undertaken for branches and members, with other pleasures like being guest of honour at horticultural college prizegivings. Working days lengthened, but throughout I had the f support of my wife Valerie.

The AGM in Dublin was memorable, particularly for the warmth of welcome from our Irish colleagues. I recall too the Lady Mayor of Dublin admiring the Institute's chain of office, but then her grand chain was made of Irish gold. My term ended with another well-attended AGM at Castle Howard. A special day, with Simon and Annette Howard, and Jim Russell, joining us for lunch.

For me the most pleasing aspect of the IoH was the new found comradeship and support that it spread across all of horticulture's disciplines. For its future, my hope is, as it was originally, that membership of the IoH will always be every horticulturist's aspiration.
John Simmons OBE VMH FI Biol FI Hort

Charles Notcutt, President 1988-1989

The Institute has always had, and probably always will have, to address the issue of how best to recognise not only academic qualifications but also practical experience. I was glad that early in my year as President it was finally agreed that Associates could put A I Hort. after their names.

The highlight of the year was a visit that August to the Shrewsbury Flower Show to meet the officers of the Shropshire Horticultural Society and collect the Society's cheque for £40,000 to endow the Percy Thrower Bursary Prize for the winner of the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition. Having been the first treasurer of the Institute for three years, I was delighted to see such a strengthening of the Institute's funds and it was good to see the competition get underway.
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It had become clear that one year in office for the President did not provide time for ideas to be formulated and then implemented. I was glad to get the AGM's agreement for future presidents serving two years and for Council meetings to be reduced from three to two a year.

But I failed to correct our initial misjudgement on branch boundaries. By including all the area around the M25 in the South East Branch, this membership proved far larger than any other branch. I endeavoured to get the members in Essex to move into the much smaller Eastern Branch, but to no avail. Perhaps time for another try, or another structure review?
Charles Notcutt OBE VMH FI Hort

Desmond (Des) Day, President 1989-1990

Angela Clarke won't thank me for saying this but without doubt one of the highlights of my presidency was appointing her as General Secretary. There had been three successive holders of the post in the Institute's first five years and a period of stability was an urgent requirement. From the start Angela coped admirably in what must have been one of London's smallest offices and within a very short period our administrative affairs were put in order.

Other highlights: the launch of the James Bruce Lecture; the first YHoY final (at Writtle); the launch of Come Into Horticulture followed by a first year distribution of 19,000 copies, and being given an opportunity to have a forty minute private meeting with David Curry MP, the MAFF minister responsible for horticulture, to describe the aims and aspirations of the Institute.

Wishes for the future? An increased membership and wide recognition that MI Hort is one of the hallmarks of horticultural professionalism.
Desmond F Day FI Hort

W J (Bill) Simpson, President 1990-1992

I was the first President to serve for two years as a result of the restructuring proposed by Charles Notcutt. This enabled me to travel to the branches and meet members. My agenda included: consolidating an efficient administrative structure following the appointment of Angela Clarke by my predecessor - Des Day; establishing financial stability, achieved with the astute help of the Hon Treasurer, David Hand; increasing membership; raising the profile and promoting the Institute through PR interviews and articles in the press.

Highlights of my presidency were the AGM at Long Ashton in 1990 where delegates were addressed by Lord Heseltine; the following year Labour MP Bryan Gould gave the James Bruce Lecture and Neil Kinnock visited Chelsea Flower Show at the Institute's invitation; the Falmouth Residential Conference and a highly entertaining and truly memorable after dinner speech by the late David Welch; the 1991 final of the YHoY competition with Anne Swithinbank asking the questions, the Kew Symposium covering 'Opportunities with Horticulture for those with Special Needs' and a career's seminar at BGLA in 1991 and another for careers advisers held at the Chelsea Flower Show.
For the future, I would like to see our Institute be the "voice" of professional horticulturists; form strategic alliances/partnerships with other organisations and societies (RHS, ISHS); gain chartered status and influence graduate awards; be consulted by Government and other authorities in the UK and increase membership at home and within the European Union.
William (Bill) J Simpson FI Hort

David Welch, President 1992-1994

David Welch's two years as President are remembered as the years of short meetings - his skills at chairing meetings ensured that agendas were always worked through expeditiously using his exuberant spirit, vast horticultural knowledge and a determination to 'get things done'. Personal memories of David Welch are carved from his limitless capacities as a public speaker. He would make a few scribbled notes over dinner and then deliver hilariously witty but cogently accurate talks embracing the foibles of the entire top table, all was done with warmth and totally disarming friendliness. He was hugely in demand as a speaker.

In the year he became President he was appointed the first chief executive of the new Royal Parks Agency, where he adopted the same approach of involving people in their environment, improving London's horticulture and introducing planting schemes each of which had the unmistakable 'Welch' touch; he was responsible for re-routing the roads round Buckingham Palace and introducing shire horses into Richmond and Bushy Parks to provide non-polluting pulling power.

It was during his Presidency that the IoH offices moved from Vincent Square to Belgrave Square. David Welch died in 2000.
David Welch CBE FI Hort
(The above notes are adapted from Professor Geoff Dixon's obituary of David Welch)

Peter Thoday, President 1994-1996

Two years is but a short period within the continuing story of British horticulture. To me the mid-1990s recall trends for good or ill, that shaped our industry.

On the downside, commercial horticulture, particularly glasshouse and fruit crops, suffered from the effects of the globalisation of the fresh produce market. Some wondered if horticultural crops in Britain were not joining weeds as being plants out of place. 'Niche market'replaced 'mass market' as growers struggled to make a fair profit.

Amenity horticulture fared better. The value and social benefit of public greenspace was beginning to be recognised. The mass planting and subsequent maintenance of native trees and shrubs on motorway verges became a very visible symbol of amenity horticulture's growing relationship with ecology. Visiting traditional gardens and garden centres set new attendance records, spear-headed by the recently re-discovered Lost Gardens of Heligan.

My recollection of the Institute is of an extremely hard working secretariat, supported by all too few active members, portraying professional horticulture at a regional, national and international level.
Peter Thoday FI Hort

Jennifer Adams, President 1996-1998

When the idea of forming the Institute was first mooted I was enthusiastic because I realised, as others did, that the nature of the horticultural world of work was such that its voice was seldom heard and that very little was known about its rewards, opportunities and problems.

Whilst President I was fortunate to be able to visit the branches and attend a large number of meetings and to share experience and knowledge. This was very rewarding and I was struck by how much I learnt from commercial growers, academics and other diverse sectors of horticulture, that was applicable to my own field of public parks. I was also pleased to be able to take steps to encourage closer working and co-operation between the professional and trade bodies representing different aspects of the horticultural world. There is still much to be done in this regard but an important start has been made.

Most of all, thinking back over the past 20 years, my experience has reinforced the view that you get out what you put in and I would encourage members to be active in the Institute's affairs for mutual benefit, now and in the future.
Jennifer Adams LVO FI Hort

John Love, President 1999 -2001

There were plenty of new developments during my presidency but it is the developments which came to fruition after my presidency which give most satisfaction.

Discontent was being expressed by several branches, and myself, regarding the quality of the slides and questions used for the YhoY competition, the difficulties of passing on the slides from centre to centre and the growing lack of interest in some colleges. Thanks to the pioneering work of the Irish Branch and to the efforts of Susan Nicholas, that a fully modern computerised presentation form of competition was established.

The second achievement, again due to others such as its editorial team, was the production of the first full colour issue of The Horticulturist, to provide a modern, attractive and interesting, in-house publication, worthy of a professional institute.

Maintaining and improving the image of the Institute is an essential task if we are to attract new members and establish the Institute as a voice for professional Horticulture. Hiding our light under a bushel is not an option.
John Love

Professor Jeff Moorby, President 2000-2002

When I became President in September 2000 I said that I wanted to try and bring the different sectors of horticulture closer, with the aim of the IoH being recognised as representative of the whole industry. We have made some progress, and certainly I met a wide range of individuals and organisations on behalf of the Institute. But, there is still some way to go.

Two major events were the publication of the Spedding Report and the Quinquennial Review of Horticulture Research International (HRI). These have led to a major reorganisation of the horticultural research effort and this is still not fully resolved, especially the future of East Malling. What we do know is that the overall level of research will be scattered and much smaller than in the past. This is not a good situation for an industry that depends on innovation.

One positive outcome has been the establishment of the National Horticultural Forum of which the IoH is a full member. The Forum brings together all the interested parties to discuss the priorities for the industry, including research, and then uses this united front to influence events. It is still early days for the Forum, but at least everyone is talking.
Professor Jeff Moorby

Professor Geoffrey R Dixon, President 2002 - 2004

It is my privilege to hold the presidency during our 20th Anniversary. Hard and devoted work by many horticulturists over the past two decades has nurtured the Institute's development as the foremost voice of British professional horticulture. The Institute is well respected and its views sought nationally in the wealth creation, educational, environmental and social impact of horticulture.

Our branch structure offers means by which we can now play an important part at regional levels. It is for this reason that Council reinstated the post of Vice-President with particular responsibilities for branch affairs. This move aims to increase the synergy between the Institute's central structure and our membership. Hopefully this will allow us to seize opportunities arising from the increasing devolution of government. Already some of the local Development Authorities are seeking views and information from the Institute.

The products of horticulture in terms of environmental care and human health and welfare are being well recognised by society. We need to turn this recognition into a realisation of the need to revitalise horticultural activities in Britain. The success that can be achieved by horticulture has been ably identified at the locations for our two most recent Annual General Meetings - the Eden Project in Cornwall and Richmond Park in London. Both demonstrate in their own ways many of the attributes of horticulture that this Institute seeks to publicise. We cannot achieve such public appreciation of horticulture solely by working alone. For this reason our participation in developments such as the National Horticulture Forum and the Biosciences Federation are essential.

The Institute is very fortunate to posses an authoritative and attractive journal in The Horticulturist which is the fruits of work by many. We need to bring the contents of our journal to the attention and use of a wider public. Success in publicising the Institute and horticulture has increased enormously over the past years. This is a continuous process by which we can steadily raise the appreciation of horticulture to the benefit of members and society at large.

The membership is the Institute's lifeblood. An expanding membership comes only as we increase services that have perceptible value. As one route to this objective the Institute is developing a scheme for continuing professional development where the aims, design and achievement of a programme of increased knowledge and skills will be firmly placed in the ownership of the individual.

There are many exciting opportunities in the pipeline for members of the Institute. Bringing these to fulfilment will only be achieved by continuing devoted service by volunteers working at Headquarters and in our branches ably supported and guided by the Institute's small band of staff. I welcome this chance to thank both groups for all their hard work and look forward to the Institute's increasing success in years to come.
Professor Geoff Dixon