Z1205/185

Male. Horticultural nurseryman. b. 23.02.1944 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Biggleswade. Father's family came from Willington. Mother from Bedford. Lived in Fairfield House (16-bedroom mansion), Biggleswade until he was 12. 25 people would come to stay at Christmas. Moved to Parkfields, Willington. (05 mins)One sister. From 3 ½ went on train with sister to Sacred Heart Convent school in Hitchin, then Bedford School. Father owned nursery and grew flowers, outside, and tomatoes, in greenhouses. Mainly chrysanthemums for Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London via the railway. Coal-fired heating for glasshouses. (10 mins)Father had a staff of 15. All family helped. One acre of glass. (15 mins)Left school at 17. Father tried to persuade him not to join the family firm but he insisted. Used large steam boiler to sterilize the soil. When he was 22, Father died. Had to take over firm and learn office side. (20 mins)New system introduced to steam soil for tomato growing. By 1995, they were raising 18 M brassica plants for supermarkets. His eldest son also joined (12 years ago) and began developing garden bedding plants. Is now dropping the vegetable side of the business and semi-retiring. The sons are concentrating on the flower side of the business, using containers. (25 mins)20 years ago, Bedfordshire was known for its vegetable growing. Now hardly any. Most vegetables brought in from abroad. Fears about the impact on farming and the countryside. In mid1980s, they were growing up to ¼ M lettuces a week. (30 mins)When Father died, they were growing mainly cabbage, runner beans, marrows, outdoors; tomatoes, followed by chrysanths for Christmas cutting. Took the crop of tomatoes from 45 tons to 130 ton per acre after one year, through good management. Dutch imports then took over. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)When he first started, 90% of all produce went to the main wholesale markets such as London, Birmingham and Coventry. Tomatoes all went locally. There were about 50 tomato growers in Bedfordshire. Now there are none. Supermarkets such as Tesco buy in from Holland. (05 mins)Expanded over five years to 3 ½ acres of glass, raising plants in blocks, ready for growers in 25 mile area. Now, there's hardly one. Growth of garden centres and recreational gardening. Thinking of grassing some of his land for stabling. (10 mins)Concern regarding the future for his sons in horticulture. Biggest change in his working life was moving from growing to plant raising. Mechanisation of production - filling trays, dibbing them, seeding them, watering, adding chemicals, covering them. Raising plants ready to be planted out into the field. Up to 50,000 an hour. Used to be 6 nurseries in Willington. Nursery staff used to field cricket teams in the village. Half the village was employed in horticulture. Village is now a commuter place. When he was young, there was no vandalism - there was a village policeman. (20 mins)Threat of East-West railway route being built through his garages but unlikely. Dedication can become an obsession - nothing in life except work. Two sons have become partners in the family firm; third son works for Rolls-Royce. (25 mins)End of Side B. Original Interview 55 mins.

8 January 2003

From: 1940 To: 2003

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HORTICULTURE & MARKET GARDENING, Christmas, nursery, railways, DEATH, tomatoes, vegetables, lettuce, Dutch, Hitchin Our Lady Roman Catholic Primary School, garden centre, vandalism, WILLINGTON, BIGGLESWADE, Biggleswade Fairfield, Glasgow