Members will want to give sympathy to Margaret Lister following the recent death of her husband David after a period of trying ill health. He played an essential part in the creation of their Mendip garden, being the fixer to support Margaret’s plantswoman skills.

She reports that he was ‘an unwilling gardener unless machinery could be involved’ but we all know how important mowing, sawing, chopping and mechanical maintenance are.

He attended many HPS meetings and enjoyed garden outings, being a connoisseur of tea and cakes! During his last days he took pleasure in having a garden chair from which he could see work going on and plants growing.