Geoffrey Smith

Share
Television gardener | Died in 2009

Horticulture expert, writer, TV and radio presenter

BBC gardening expert Geoffrey Smith died on 27 February, 2009, aged 80.

The gardener, writer, and TV and radio presenter had appeared on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time for 20 years.

He presented several series on BBC2, including Gardeners' World.

He also created Harrogate's Harlow Carr - one of the great gardens of northern England.

Mark Damazer, controller of Radio 4, said: "Geoff was a mainstay of Gardeners' Question Time and brought to the programme a wonderful blend of erudition, wit and warmth that made everyone else on the programme perform to their best. He had a real connection to the audience and I'm very grateful for all he did for the programme and Radio 4 as a whole."

Trevor Taylor, executive producer of Gardeners' Question Time, said: "Geoffrey Smith was one of Gardeners' Question Time's longest-serving and best-loved panellists. He joined the programme in 1983 and was on virtually every week for the following 15 years. He was a giant of horticultural broadcasting.

"His love of gardening, great skills with words and terrific rapport with the audience made him one of Gardeners' Question Time's most popular panellists.

"He was an absolute mine of horticultural information, had a great wit and his poetic turn of phrase made him one of gardening's great broadcasters.

Mr Smith was a prolific writer, contributing to many books, including The Lady, Garden News and The Garden.

His own books became gardening bestsellers, which include Mr Smith's Flower Garden, Gardening (Sure & Simple), A Passion for Plants, The Book of Primroses, Shrubs and Small Trees for Your Garden and The Joy of Wildlife Gardening.

Mr Smith lived in the Yorkshire Dales and his hobbies included fell-walking, photography and fly fishing.

Your Memories

Geoffrey Smith was a lovely man who, through his numerous Mr Smith gardening series (particularly Mr Smith's Favourite Garden) and the passion he showed in them, turned gardening for me from a chore into a favourite hobby. I started corresponding with him last year and received many nice letters, all immaculately hand-written with a fountain pen, despite his apologies that he was "handier with a spade than a pen". I will treasure them.

I was not aware that he was ill so it was a great shock to hear the news yesterday. I had hoped to meet him this year but sadly that will never happen.

My sympathies go to his wife Marjorie and his family. John Parker — 01.03.2009
I remember watching Mr. Smiths Vegetable Garden on a Friday night as a teenager. He started a life long passion of growing vegetables. Not sure if my parents were as impressed when they returned home one day to find half of the back lawn removed, however they seemed to enjoy the vegetables! I still have my original copy of the book that accompanied the series although you can only just about see the picture on the front of Mr. Smith with his wheelbarrow of vegetables. I follow his 4 year rotation with onions in the same bed to build fertility. He has never failed me and I am sorry to hear of his death. My sympathy to his wife and family - treasure his memory. Anne Tucker — 02.03.2009
I just loved to hear Geoffrey Smith on the television and radio. His voice was superb, and he was able to share his vast knowledge so eloquently. I remember hearing him talk at one of the first Gardeners World Live shows in Birmingham. He brought tears to my eyes, the way he talked about our wonderful English countryside and gardens. Long may he be remembered in our hearts and gardens. florence keeton — 03.03.2009

Gifts

Add a gift for Geoffrey Smith for just £1