Geoff Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Geoff Hamilton was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World
in the 1980s and 90s.
He was born Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton just a few minutes before his twin brother Tony, in Stepney
, London. Geoff's family moved to Broxbourne
in Hertfordshire
when he was two, and his interest in horticulture was nurtured initially by working on the family's back garden. He expanded his knowledge still further by helping out at local nurseries during the school holidays - mainly at the Van Hage nursery at the end of his road. He went on to Writtle Agricultural College
in Essex
where, in 1959, he passed the National Diploma in Horticulture with distinction.
After graduating from agricultural college he became a nurseryman and self-employed landscape gardener, then opened his own garden centre ("The Hamilton Garden Centre") on the outskirts of Kettering
in Northamptonshire
. He began writing a column for Garden News in 1970, and in 1975 became a full-time journalist when he took over as editor of Practical Gardening magazine, where he began his crusade to inform everybody about the joys and benefits of organic gardening.
. From 1979 until his death, he was the show's regular, and longest-serving presenter, and, in 1985, was responsible for moving the show's venue to his own garden at Barnsdale, Rutland
. He was also the creator of several other BBC television gardening series such as The Cottage Garden, The Paradise Garden and The Ornamental Kitchen Garden. Geoff wrote or co-wrote a number of books to accompany his television series (see below).
His practical hands-on experience, down-to-earth, cost-saving approach to gardening, his desire to share his failures as well as successes with the audience, combined with a gentle humour were some of the keys to his success and popularity. He was a committed and informed early advocate of the organic approach to gardening, helping to dispel the rather widely held belief that organic gardening was slightly odd and 'cranky.'
Readers of Amateur Gardening
magazine nominated Hamilton as Gardener of the Millennium. It has remained a puzzle to many in the gardening world that despite his achievements and popularity, he received neither award nor recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society
. He was, however, awarded an honorary Master of Science Degree by Anglia Polytechnic University
in 1994.
, Wales
in August 1996.
His garden at Barnsdale, consisting of 38 themed gardens over 8 acres (32,374.9 m²), remains open to the public and is run by his son Nick Hamilton (also an organic gardener and writer). A charity, "Geoff Hamilton's New Gardeners' Foundation" was set up to provide a bursary of £4,000 for students of any age and level studying practical horticulture at Writtle College
. This award is funded by donations and sales of gardening DVDs.
Gardeners' World
Gardeners' World is a long-running BBC television programme about gardening that continues to this day. Its first episode was filmed in 1968, presented by Ken Burras and came from Oxford Botanical Gardens. The magazine BBC Gardeners' World is a tie-in to the programme. Most of its episodes have...
in the 1980s and 90s.
Background
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, London. Geoff's family moved to Broxbourne
Broxbourne
Broxbourne is a commuter town in the Broxbourne borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of 13,298 in 2001.It is located 17.1 miles north north-east of Charing Cross in London and about a mile north of Wormley and south of Hoddesdon...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
when he was two, and his interest in horticulture was nurtured initially by working on the family's back garden. He expanded his knowledge still further by helping out at local nurseries during the school holidays - mainly at the Van Hage nursery at the end of his road. He went on to Writtle Agricultural College
Writtle College
Writtle College is one of the largest land-based university colleges in the UK; it is also one of the oldest. Writtle, previously known as Writtle Agricultural College, is a Partner Institution of the University of Essex and teaches FE and HE programmes.- Writtle :The college has diversified over...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
where, in 1959, he passed the National Diploma in Horticulture with distinction.
After graduating from agricultural college he became a nurseryman and self-employed landscape gardener, then opened his own garden centre ("The Hamilton Garden Centre") on the outskirts of Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. He began writing a column for Garden News in 1970, and in 1975 became a full-time journalist when he took over as editor of Practical Gardening magazine, where he began his crusade to inform everybody about the joys and benefits of organic gardening.
Television and Barnsdale
He got his first break into television in 1970 presenting Gardening Diary for Anglia TV which led to guest appearances on BBC1's Gardeners' WorldGardeners' World
Gardeners' World is a long-running BBC television programme about gardening that continues to this day. Its first episode was filmed in 1968, presented by Ken Burras and came from Oxford Botanical Gardens. The magazine BBC Gardeners' World is a tie-in to the programme. Most of its episodes have...
. From 1979 until his death, he was the show's regular, and longest-serving presenter, and, in 1985, was responsible for moving the show's venue to his own garden at Barnsdale, Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
. He was also the creator of several other BBC television gardening series such as The Cottage Garden, The Paradise Garden and The Ornamental Kitchen Garden. Geoff wrote or co-wrote a number of books to accompany his television series (see below).
His practical hands-on experience, down-to-earth, cost-saving approach to gardening, his desire to share his failures as well as successes with the audience, combined with a gentle humour were some of the keys to his success and popularity. He was a committed and informed early advocate of the organic approach to gardening, helping to dispel the rather widely held belief that organic gardening was slightly odd and 'cranky.'
Readers of Amateur Gardening
Amateur Gardening (magazine)
Amateur Gardening is a British magazine dedicated to gardening, including news, advice, feature articles and celebrity columns and interviews.Famous writers for the weekly magazine have included Alan Titchmarsh - who also worked there as deputy editor;...
magazine nominated Hamilton as Gardener of the Millennium. It has remained a puzzle to many in the gardening world that despite his achievements and popularity, he received neither award nor recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
. He was, however, awarded an honorary Master of Science Degree by Anglia Polytechnic University
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
in 1994.
Death and legacy
Hamilton died after suffering a heart attack on a charity bike ride near Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in August 1996.
His garden at Barnsdale, consisting of 38 themed gardens over 8 acres (32,374.9 m²), remains open to the public and is run by his son Nick Hamilton (also an organic gardener and writer). A charity, "Geoff Hamilton's New Gardeners' Foundation" was set up to provide a bursary of £4,000 for students of any age and level studying practical horticulture at Writtle College
Writtle College
Writtle College is one of the largest land-based university colleges in the UK; it is also one of the oldest. Writtle, previously known as Writtle Agricultural College, is a Partner Institution of the University of Essex and teaches FE and HE programmes.- Writtle :The college has diversified over...
. This award is funded by donations and sales of gardening DVDs.
External links
- Obituary (The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, 6 Aug 1996) - Biography (findagrave.com)
- Geoff Hamilton biog (Barnsdale gardens)
- Geoff Hamilton - a gardening legend
- Geoff Hamilton rose