Thank you to John Dyson

What a lucky Group we have been for so many years with the support of John. He has always insisted that he is not a gardener but it is amazing what knowledge he actually has! He very much hides his talents under a bushel. Jean has always been a keen gardener and John has supported her throughout, from the days when she attended Hazel Kaye’s lectures in Leicester to when Hazel helped form the Rutland Group of the Hardy Plant Society.

Little did John realise then, how involved he would become with the Hardy Plant Society!!! Johnbecame a member of the Group Committee and designed our website and is still happy to run it. He joined Jean on many foreign trips and garden weekends organised by the HPS and his photography and computer skills came to the fore. So the non-gardener became a Trustee in 2015 and Website Coordinator. He was presented with a gift when he retired from the latter role in 2023.

At Uppingham, John is always at meetings setting up the technology and the sound system beforehand. He is there vacuuming up the debris afterwards. He has decided to step back from the Committee, of which he was a very valued and respected member who contributed a different approach to the discussion. He still helps with all the activities and website in his quiet unassuming way. Thank you John for being you and a valued member of the Rutland Group of the HPS.

(with thanks to Pat Woolston for this tribute)

At the recent Plant Sale, a few of us involved with the set-up surprised John with a thank you gift for his enormous contribution to the Rutland Group.