Geoffrey Smith R.I.P

Oh no! He taught me how to dig on one of his programmes, such a basic skill but easy to get wrong. Harlow Carr was a wonderful garden, I knew it when still Northern Horticultural owned.

I loved his 'put the brown end in the soil, and the green end above it' quote - it really sums up his down to earth (sorry) approach to gardening.

He will be sadly missed.

He always seemed like a genuinely nice bloke, as well as a great gardener. Being a fellow Yorkshireman, he was always my Grandad's favourite 'tv gardener', so I grew up believeing he was pretty close to being 'St Geoffrey of the Garden'

RIP

He, with the late and still missed Geoff Hamilton, were 'real' gardeners in my book.

Wise gardener and very nice man.

I recall watching him on TV how to grow celery in very great detail following the whole process from seed sowing to harvesting which must have taken a good deal of planning. He had a specific veg growing series called Mr Smith's Vegetable Gardening. Each episode was a labour of love I reckon.

Some of my earliest "gardening" memories are of Geoffrey Smith

He always struck me as a get your wellies on and get out there type

A sad day for those who knew him and those of us who remember and were inspired by him

Gardeners' Question tTime this week has a big feature about his life. Sadly I shall be out and about with our village Britain in Bloom team getting stuck in. Might try getting it online later.

R.I.P. Geoffrey Smith


Geo..

Sad to hear about this, he seemed like a genuine, down to earth gardener & a nice man also.

Geoffery Smith, Bless him

I was deeply saddened to hear news that the gardening legend Geoffrey Smith died on Friday, aged 80. Geoffrey suffered a stroke last year, and after being in hospital for several months his family was hoping to care for him at home.

Geoffrey was my gardening inspiration. As a youngster, simply watching and listening to him speak opened my eyes to the wonder of gardening, filling me with energy to get out and get stuck in.

His enthusiasm was infectious. His smile and voice captivating. I could hardly restrain myself long enough to watch until the end of a programme before rushing out into my own garden. What a wonderful gift that man had, a born communicator who loved sharing his passion with others.

He was doing growing your own veg programmes on the telly back in the early 80's and was on Gardener's Question time for 15 years and I for one could have listened to this wonderful Yorkshireman all day.

I can still hear his voice offering words of wisdom to me when I’m pottering about in my own garden. I wouldn’t be speaking of out of turn when I say that very few gardening experts and television presenters today have reached his level of expertise. Geoffrey was greatly admired and respected, much loved, and will be very sadly missed.

My condolences to his family and close friends.

Hear, hear! Lovely warm voice, and as you said, a real enthusiast and able to impart this to others.

Hi Flummery

Did you ever get to meet him ??
I was fortunate enough to in 1998, he was just like he appeared to be, that lovely accent full of enthusiasm and a smile on his face as he told us stories of his gardening explots of many years.
It was only for about 20 minutes but he left a lasting impression on all of us, just as Geoff Hamilton did in his time.

Another of my favourites were Arthur Billitt, Clay Jones and Percy Thrower all great garden men.