Geoffrey Denis Smith (23 March 1928 – 27 February 2009) was a professional gardener, broadcaster, writer and

lecturer Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...

. He was the presenter of ''

Gardeners World ''Gardeners' World'' is a long-running British gardening programme, first broadcast on 5 January 1968. The 2022 series is the 53rd. Its first series was presented by Ken Burras and came from University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Oxford Botanical ...

'' from 1980 to 1982 and a number of other BBC series in the early 80s including ''Geoffrey Smith's World of Flowers'', ''Mr Smith’s Flower Garden'', ''Mr Smith's Favourite Garden'' and ''Mr Smith’s Indoor Garden'' all of which were accompanied by books.

Biography

Smith was born at Barningham Park, Barningham,

North Riding of Yorkshire The North Riding of Yorkshire is a subdivision of Yorkshire, England, alongside York, the East Riding and West Riding. The riding's highest point is at Mickle Fell with 2,585 ft (788 metres). From the Restoration it was used as ...

(since 1974 in

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), where his father was head gardener. He was sent to board at Barnard Castle School but hated the restrictive life there. After leaving school he spent six years helping his father at Barningham Park. Smith trained at the Yorkshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture, which brought him the prize for best all-round student. At the age of 26, he was appointed Superintendent at the Northern Horticultural Society Gardens. He worked as the Superintendent of Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate from 1954 to 1974 where he was known for growing plants which experts had labelled unfit for the northern climate. In 1972 he was made an Associate of Honour to the Royal Horticultural Society, for services to gardening, and in 1988 he received an honorary master's degree from the Open University. He won the

Garden Writers' Guild The British Garden Media Guild (formerly The Garden Writers' Guild) is a trade organisation for professional garden writers, journalists, photographers, broadcasters and members of allied trades. The Guild was established in to improve the qual ...

Lifetime Achievement Award for 2006 at the age of 78. He made appearances on BBC TV's ''Gardening Club'' which were followed, in 1976, by his first BBC series, ''Mr Smith’s Vegetable Garden''. He had a distinctive voice and sharp wit which were well known to radio listeners as he became a regular panelist on Radio 4’s '' Gardeners' Question Time''. Smith was a prolific writer, contributing to '' The Lady'', ''Garden News'' and ''The Garden''. His many books became gardening best sellers, among them ''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''. Geoffrey Smith lived in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales and his hobbies included fell-walking, photography, fly fishing and a passionate interest in all things pertaining to the countryside.

Quote

Personal life

Smith was a Baptist.Obituary: Geoffrey Smith , Television & radio , The Guardian
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References

External links

Obituary in ''The Times''

Obituary in ''The Guardian''

Obituary in ''The Scotsman''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Geoffrey 1928 births 2009 deaths BBC people English gardeners English radio personalities English television presenters English garden writers People from Startforth Rural District People educated at Barnard Castle School English Baptists 20th-century Baptists