William ‘Jock’ Davidson, one of the nursery industry’s most colourful characters, has died, aged 89.
Jock was best known in the trade as shows manager for Rochfords, the Hertfordshire growers of pot plants, where the term ‘houseplant’ was coined, setting a trend in the 1950s. He was one of the world’s foremost houseplant experts and was responsible for numerous award winning exhibits at flower shows.
From 1980 to 2000, Jock was a columnist for Garden Trade News and various gardening magazines. He wrote a number of books and made regular TV and radio appearances, including the BBC’s Gardeners’ Question Time.
Jock, who lived in Welwyn Garden City, was renowned for his cheeky humour. GTN Editor Mike Wyatt recalls: “He was once asked what was the most dangerous plant to sit under in the garden. He replied: ‘The water lily’.
