The RHS has presented its annual prestigious awards for contributions to horticulture in the RHS Awards Ceremony 2013 with Nigel Colborn and Brian Humphrey collecting the coveted Victoria Medal of Honour.
The RHS Awards are a reflection of both horticultural excellence and personal endeavour and are regarded internationally as being among the highest distinctions in horticulture.
RHS President Elizabeth Banks presented a total of 33 honours to those worthy participants- professionals and amateurs who have proved considerable contributions to horticulture.
Worthy awards- the Victoria Medal of Honour
The highest accolade of the RHS – the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) – was awarded to Nigel Colborn and Brian Humphrey. The VMH is awarded to British horticulturists, resident in the UK whom the RHS Council considers deserving of special honour. Only 63 horticulturists hold the VMH at one time, marking the length of Queen Victoria’s reign.
Nigel Colborn was a member of RHS Council from 2002–2010 and has been a member of various RHS committees including the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee and Chairman of the RHS Tender Ornamental Plant Committee. He presented Gardeners’ World on the BBC and is a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time.
Brian Humphrey trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and has worked for Hillier Nurseries and Notcutts Nurseries. On leaving Notcutts he built his own nursery, propagating and growing rare and unusual plants. He was a founding member of the International Plant Propagators Society of Great Britain and Ireland and became its first President. In 1988 he received an OBE for his services to horticulture.
Further awards
Peter Del Tredici, Peter Furniss, Keith Hammett, Sue Minter, Alec Pridgeon and Margaret Owen were all awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of science, art or the practice of horticulture.
Andrew Mudge, Bernard Sparkes and Barry Starling were awarded the RHS Associate of Honour. With no more than 100 being held at any one time, the Associateship of Honour is presented to British nationals who have rendered distinguished services to horticulture in the course of their working life.
The Harlow Carr Medal, given to honour people who have made a significant contribution to horticulture in the North of England, was awarded to Hilary Dobson and Alan Foxall.
Other awards presented at the RHS Awards Ceremony include those associated with RHS shows. Downderry Nursery was awarded the Lawrence Medal, the Williams Memorial Medal, the Colin Spires Herb Trophy and the Mrs FE Rivis Prize, for its lavender exhibit at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Young horticulturists were also recognised with the Master of Horticulture, the Society’s most prestigious professional horticultural qualification. This went to John Moore, Nick Lightfoot and Tanya Silverton.
Lucas Hatch, from St Mary’s CEVA Primary School in Woodbridge, Suffolk was awarded with the title of Young School Gardener of the Year.
Elizabeth Banks said ‘It has been a real pleasure to celebrate the hard work, knowledge and dedication of all these individuals today. It is so great to see not only those that have spent a lifetime dedicated to horticulture awarded in such a way, but also to award the achievements of students and those who will be the next generation to continue this exceptional work in the field of horticulture.’
Full list of awards
The Victoria Medal of Honour
Nigel Colborn
Brian Humphrey OBE
The Veitch Memorial Medal
Peter Del Tredici
Peter Furniss
Keith Hammett
Sue Minter
Alec Pridgeon
Margaret Owen
Associate of Honour
Andrew Mudge
Bernard Sparkes
Barry Starling
Harlow Carr Medal
Hilary Dodson
Alan Foxall
Lawrence Medal
Downderry Nursery
Williams Memorial Medal
Downderry Nursery
Mrs FE Rivis Price
Simon Charlesworth of Downderry Nursery
Colin Spires Herb Trophy
Downderry Nursery
Wigan Cup
Birmingham City Council
Reginald Cory Memorial Cup
Charles Valin of Thompson & Morgan
Holford Medal
The Federation of British Bonsai Societies
Peter Barr Memorial Cup
Dr Peter Ramsey
The Westonbirt Orchid Medal
David Martin
Farrer Trophy
Edrom Nursery
Gordon-Lennox Trophy
Medwyn’s of Anglesey
Anthony Huxley Trophy
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants
George Moore Medal
Eric Young Orchid Foundation
EH Trophy
WS Warmenhoven
Bursary Committee: Report Prizes
Dr Christopher Whitehouse
Zdenek Valkoun
Master of Horticulture
John Moore
Nick Lightfoot
Tanya Silverton
RHS Campaign for School Gardening – Young School Gardener of the Year
Lucas Hatch
Source: RHS
