I am a horticulturist by profession, working firstly in the public sector, then in commercial nurseries before later becoming a college lecturer. My particular interests were garden and landscape management, and hardy plant production and marketing. After stepping down from lecturing I became involved with a number of charities which had community horticultural projects.

The subject of my Fellowship was the management of volunteers in public gardens. I met many managers who had transformed their organisations solely through skilled deployment of volunteers. After my Fellowship I continued to work with a county volunteer centre, advising on volunteer management in a variety of fields. I was the leader of a government-funded programme to increase volunteer recruitment.

I continue to be involved in horticulture as a specialist tour guide and consultant.