Geoff Hamilton

Geoff Hamilton
Geoff Hamilton
	Bust of Hamilton in his garden, Barnsdale Gardens, in Rutland
Born	15 August 1936; Stepney, London, England
Died	4 August 1996 (aged 59); Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Education	Writtle Agricultural College
Employer	BBC
Notable work	Gardeners' World
Spouse	Lynda
Children	3

Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton (15 August 1936 – 4 August 1996) was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 1990s.^[1]

Background

Hamilton was born just a few minutes before his twin brother Tony, in

Writtle Agricultural College in Essex

where, in 1959, he passed the National Diploma in Horticulture with distinction.

After graduating from agricultural college he became a nurseryman and self-employed landscape gardener, then opened his own garden centre ("The Hamilton Garden Centre") on the outskirts of Kettering in Northamptonshire.^[1] He began writing a column for Garden News in 1970, and in 1975 became a full-time journalist when he took over as editor of Practical Gardening magazine, where he began his crusade to inform everybody about the joys and benefits of organic gardening.

Television and Barnsdale

Hamilton got his first break into television in 1970 presenting Gardening Diary for

BBC1's Gardeners' World. From 1979 until his death, he was the show's regular, and longest-serving presenter, and, in 1985, was responsible for moving the show's venue to his own garden at Barnsdale, Oakham, Rutland. ^[2]

He was also the creator of several other BBC television gardening series such as The Cottage Garden, The Paradise Garden and The Ornamental Kitchen Garden. Hamilton wrote or co-wrote a number of books to accompany his television series (see below).

His practical hands-on experience, down-to-earth, cost-saving approach to gardening, his desire to share his failures as well as successes with the audience, combined with a gentle humour were some of the keys to his success and popularity. He was a committed and informed early advocate of the organic approach to gardening, helping to dispel the rather widely held belief that organic gardening was slightly odd and 'cranky.'

Readers of Amateur Gardening magazine nominated Hamilton as Gardener of the Millennium.^[3] It has remained a puzzle to many in the gardening world that despite his achievements and popularity, he received neither award nor recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society. He was, however, awarded an honorary Master of Science Degree by Anglia Polytechnic University in 1994.

Death and legacy

Hamilton suffered a heart attack in 1995, and took three months off work to recuperate.^[4] He died after suffering a heart attack on a charity bike ride near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, in August 1996. He was buried at St Peter and St Paul Churchyard in Exton, Rutland.^[5]

His garden at

Writtle College.^[6]

This award is funded by donations and sales of gardening DVDs.

Bibliography

Written or co-authored by Hamilton

Do Your Own Garden Stonework (W Foulsham & Company Limited, 1986).
The Living Garden (BBC books, 1992).
Geoff Hamilton's Cottage Gardens (BBC books, 1995).
The Ornamental Kitchen Garden (BBC books, 1995).
Search, Gay. Old Garden, New Gardener (BBC books, 1995)
Search, Gay. The Complete First Time Gardener (BBC books, 1996)
Geoff Hamilton's Paradise Gardens (BBC books, 1997).
Clevely, A & Hamilton, L. Geoff Hamilton's Year in Your Garden (Headline Book Publishing, 1998)
"Gardeners' World" Practical Gardening Course (BBC books, 2000).
Organic Gardening (Dorling Kindersley, 2008).