In This Issue
Is the £91m sale and leaseback deal funding Wyvevale Garden Centre's ongoing spending spree?
Rising Stars prepare for Brighton finale
HTA Netherlands Retail Study Tour 17-19 February 2016
Change at the top at Vitax
Magic earlybird start for Jack’s All Purpose
Wyevale acquires Woodcote Green Garden Centre
Garden lighting sales continue to shine in New Year
Mr Fothergills leads the way with new veg seed sales
Gardman triples size of its Christmas offering
Increase profits from your pond fixture with Superfish
Expansion plans at Planters of Bretby given go-ahead
CM Van Hage 19 September 1924 – 5 January 2016
John Brian Edmonds
Hillview and Brandsford Webbs enable Hospice Garden at Malvern Spring Show
Groen-Direkt comes of age!
Ansells Paresh to run London Marathon for Perennial
Loose lbs and gain £'s for Garden Re-Leaf Day
Work Begins on Greenfingers Chelsea Flower Show Relocation at Isle of Wight Hospice
Mr Fothergill's wants a name for Royal Hospital Sweet Pea
Pastels trend to boost Mothers' Day sales this year, say G Plants
Garden Plant of the Month for February: Snowball
Garden centre fraudster told to pay money back
The Greatest Awards go back on tour in 2016
Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends)
Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (West Yorkshire)
Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends)
Plantarea Manager/ Supervisory (Berkshire)
Bedding Department Head - Full time, including alternate weekends
Plantarea Manager/Horticultural Manager/Garden Centre
Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends)
Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (Somerset)
Matt's over the moon to be a Rising Star at Squires
Coolings Rising Star Sophie loves responsibility
From watching at Blackpool, Will Clark is now a Barton Grange Rising Star at Brighton
Jack Fillingham graduates from Sunshine training scheme to Rising Stars
Barton Grange Cookshop Rising Star Kath Bailey sets her goal on winning in Brighton
Sam Clark from Cowells is "chuffed" to be a Rising Star
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Pictures from The Greatest Christmas Gold-winning Teams
Brookside Garden Centre
Haskins West End
Hillmount Garden Centre
Mains of Drum
Premier Decorations
Bents and Le Friquet
The Greatest Christmas Display winners
Silverbirch (Small Garden Centre Gold)
Old Railway Line (Mid-sized Garden Centre Gold)
Barton Grange (Large Garden Centre Gold)
Le Friquet (Group Garden Centre Gold)
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Commercial Kitchen announces partnership with CEDA
Situations Vacant
Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends)
West Horsley KT24 6AR
 
Read more»
Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (West Yorkshire)
Salary: Dependent on experience
Read more»
Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends)
West Horsley KT24 6AR
 
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Plantarea Manager/ Supervisory (Berkshire)
Salary: Dependent on experience
Read more»
Bedding Department Head - Full time, including alternate weekends
Twickenham TW2 5PA
 
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Plantarea Manager/Horticultural Manager/Garden Centre
Salary: £18,000-£24,000
Read more»
Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends)
Twickenham TW2 5PA
 
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Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (Somerset)
Salary: £20,000-£24,000
Read more»
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Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700



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CM Van Hage 19 September 1924 – 5 January 2016




He was instrumental in developing the concept of the “Garden Centre”, as a destination in its own right, a place where a family could go and enjoy a day out, which was a revolutionary idea back in the 1960’s.  Having left war-torn Holland in 1946, he met Thea Warmerdam when he came to work for her Nurseryman father, whose family had settled in Goffs Oak during the War, where they grew tomatoes and cucumbers. They married in 1953 and started the business in Broxbourne, on the old A10, while at the same time raising 6 children.  A placard in the window bore the words “Always Open”, and the Car Park had room for 7 or 8 cars, at a pinch.  One of the Weekend Juniors at Broxbourne was a young man called Geoff Hamilton, who was, legend has it, ticked off by Cornelius for “talking too much.”  If ever there was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, this must surely have been it.

From small beginnings at Broxbourne, with the landmark Windmill Garden, which Cor planted up himself, coming alive every Spring with hundreds of daffodils and tulips, in 1971, the business relocated to Great Amwell, to the site of a former Rose Nursery, known as Chaplin Brothers.  With the words “The Gardeners’ Paradise” boldly emblazoned across the front, the brand new Centre was opened by Percy Thrower, and with both Thea and Cornelius in attendance virtually 7 days a week, became instantly successful, attracting thousands of visitors each week, as well as Garden Centre Operators from as far afield as Holland, France and Italy.

Although retired, he maintained a keen interest, and saw the business that he and Thea had founded take root and grow, to include award-winning Garden Centres at Chenies in Buckinghamshire, and Peterborough, as well as the flagship site at Great Amwell.

He leaves 6 children and 12 grandchildren, and he will be sorely missed. His sense of humour, love of all things horticultural, and zest for life, will be remembered and celebrated by everyone who knew him.

The funeral service will take place on Monday 8th February at 11 am,  at St Augustine’s RC Church, Hoddesdon, Herts. All Welcome.

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