Tributes have been pouring in following the death this week of Charles Notcutt

John Ashley (former sales director, Scotts): Charles Notcutt was one of the key figures in developing the gardening industry into the fantastic business it is today. He has always held strong views on many subjects and was not shy at putting his point over to any audience. Always a gentleman and passionate about his business, he was always ready to give advice and welcome newcomers to the industry which he did when I joined in 1972. He will be sadly missed by all who benefited from his wisdom and good humour. May he rest in peace.

Peter Seabrook (journalist and broadcaster): Charles Notcutt was such a force of good works. His energies, experience and generous contribution will be missed at the RHS, HTA, the GCA (one of the founding committee members), The Farmers Club and Writtle College to mention a few of the bodies he served so loyally. His death leaves a big hole in the close-knit horticultural world and I will miss his presence and friendship.  Thank you Charles for all you did in the nursery and garden centre worlds.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Government Chief Whip in The House of Lords and former MD of Taylors Bulbs): The whole industry will miss one of its greatest figures.  Not only did Charles run and expand a successful business, he also was a great team player for the industry as a whole.  Anyone working in the industry today has a lot to thank him for.

Martin Stewart (Stewarts Garden Centres): After my father died Charles was amazingly kind and supportive to me. I needed some help with a specific issue and he invited me up to stay, talking late into the night. He shared so much with me - help I could not have received from anyone else. His actions spoke volumes, not only about himself but for the open and honest relationships that he instilled throughout the industry that we all love so much. Charles's impact on the independent garden centre trade will live on forever. The current strength of the independent sector is in no small way due to the extraordinary charisma and enthusiasm shown by Charles Notcutt. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten by us all at Stewarts.

Derek Bunker (owner, Alton Garden Centre): Charles was so well respected in the trade. He was an excellent speaker who could always put his point across very clearly and precisely. While I was GCA chairman, Charles commented that he was very impressed with the Rolls Royce I was driving him to an event in. Of course, he could have bought six himself but then that wouldn’t have been the right car to be seen in on the streets of Woodbridge at the time. Notcutts have always been a good group and I hope the family and the current team will keep the name and the business going strong and not sell up.

Boyd Douglas-Davies (CEO, Hillview group): Charles Notcutt’s influence on horticulture as a great plantsman and business leader will be felt for many years to come. I regarded him as one of the great statesmen ‎who helped to shape the world we know today.

Dennis Espley (MD, Squires group): Charles Notcutt was one of the great figures in the industry over the last 50 years. He was a leading light in nurseries, garden centres and the world of horticulture in a wider context, very active in the RHS, spending  many years on the RHS Council. He set the way for Notcutts Garden Centres be the significant player it is today. He was a great friend to many in the industry, including the directors of Squire’s. He will be greatly missed.

Colin Squires (chairman, Squires group): I’ve known Charles so long. When the HTA formed a separate group for garden centres, Charles was the very first chairman.  He set that group, which became the GCA, on the right way. He was very erudite and clear from the start that we needed inspections and standards. That was the formation of what we look forward to now. He was a real pioneer in the industry. In the early days he also formed a multiple group understanding the need to share information and talk over the issues of the day to help further the industry.  I always enjoyed working with Charles and will miss him.


Caroline Owen (Scotsdales): I was privileged to hear Charles lecture on climate change at one of the first HTA conferences I attended.  His passion for the subject matched the passion he had for the garden industry. The world is a sadder place without Charles.

Carol Paris (Director General, HTA): I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Charles Notcutt. A true plantsman, Charles has done so much for the industry throughout his long and distinguished career. Charles has been a great supporter of the HTA and will be much missed.

Donald Hearn (RHS Secretary & Finance Director, 1986-2001): Charles Notcutt took some persuading to join the RHS Council.  Once on board he was a tower of common sense within the society.  His natural ebullience was infectious and he could always be relied on to remind us of what was best for nurserymen and garden centres.  When there was a move to alert the public to the dangers of poisonous plants, Charles pointed out that putting a skull and cross bones on the plant labels was not exactly going to help promote sales.  We dropped the idea.

Charles was a staunch supporter of the RHS shows. He was particularly keen to make a real success of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which he saw would make it possible for the nurserymen to sell plants in significant volumes, unlike at Chelsea.  And he was good at practical details, insisting that the water supply in the Great Marquee at Chelsea must be improved, making life a bit easier for the long suffering exhibitors.

Charles did great service to the RHS, and the horticultural sector has reason to be very grateful for his positive contribution to the gardening public.  We need more people like Charles to step up.