Harman Patil (Editor)

Victoria Medal of Honour

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The Victoria Medal of Honour ("VMH") is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society

Contents

The award was established in 1897 "in perpetual remembrance of Her Majesty's glorious reign, and to enable the Council to confer honour on British horticulturists." The Society's rules state that only sixty-three horticulturists can hold the VMH at any given time, in commemoration of the sixty-three years of Queen Victoria's reign. Therefore, the honour is not awarded every year, but may be made to multiple recipients in other years.

1897 – The first 60 medallists

The first 60 medals were awarded on 26 October 1897:

  • John Gilbert Baker (1834–1920)
  • Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853–1922)
  • Peter Barr (1826–1909)
  • Archibald F Barron (1835–1903)
  • Edward John Beale (1835–1902)
  • William Boxall (1844–1910)
  • William Bull (1828–1902)
  • George Bunyard (1841–1919)
  • Frederick William Burbidge (1847–1905)
  • William Crump (1843–1932)
  • Richard Dean (1830–1905)
  • George A Dickson (c1835 – 1909)
  • Henry Honeywood D'ombrain (1818–1905)
  • Charles Thomas Druery (1843–1917)
  • Malcolm Dunn (1837–1899)
  • Henry Nicholson Ellacombe (1822–1916)
  • Henry John Elwes (1846–1922)
  • Michael Foster (1836–1907)
  • John Fraser (1821–1900)
  • George Gordon (1841–1914)
  • John Heal (c1841 – 1925)
  • George Henslow (1835–1925)
  • Hermann Carl Gottlieb Herbst (c1830 – 1904)
  • Samuel Reynolds Hole (1819–1904)
  • Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911)
  • Francis Daltry Horner (c1838 – 1912)
  • James Hudson (1846–1932)
  • Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932)
  • Peter Kay (c1853 – 1909)
  • John Laing (1823–1900)
  • James McIndoe (1836–1910)
  • Charles Maries (1851–1902)
  • Henry Ernest Milner (1845–1906)
  • Edwin Molyneux (1851–1921)
  • George Monro (c1847 – 1920)
  • Fredrick William Moore (1857–1949)
  • Daniel Morris (1844–1933)
  • George Nicholson (1847–1908)
  • James O'Brien (1842–1930)
  • Paul George (1841–1921)
  • William Paul (1822–1905)
  • T Francis Rivers (1831–1899)
  • Lionel Walter Rothschild (1868–1937)
  • Frederick Sander (1847–1920)
  • Henry Schröder (1824–1910)
  • John Seden (1840–1921)
  • Nathaniel Newman Sherwood (1846–1916)
  • James Smith (1837–1903)
  • Martin Ridley Smith ( – 1908)
  • Walter Speed (c1835 – 1921) Head Gardener at Penrhyn Castle, Wales
  • Arthur Warwick Sutton (1854–1925)
  • Owen Thomas (1843–1923)
  • William Thompson (1823–1903)
  • David Thomson (1823–1909)
  • Harry Turner (c1848 – 1906)
  • Ellen Willmott(1858–1934)
  • George Fergusson Wilson (1822–1902)
  • Charles Wolley-Dod (1826–1904)
  • John Wright (1836–1916)
  • George Wythes (1851–1916)

    • 1900–1909

  • 1900
  • George Herbert Engleheart (1851–1936)
  • 1901
  • Eleanor Ormerod
  • George King
  • 1902
  • Mordecai Cubitt Cooke (1825–1914), Mycologist
  • 1904
  • Edward Mawley (1842–1916)
  • 1906
  • Harry Veitch (1840–1924)
  • Richard Irwin Lynch (1850–1924), Curator of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

    • 1910–1919

  • 1912
  • Ernest Henry Wilson (1876–1930)
  • 1916
  • Edward Augustus Bowles (1865–1954)
  • 1917
  • Peter Veitch (1850–1929)

    • 1920–1929

  • 1921
  • George Forrest (1873–1932)
  • 1922
  • Arthur Townshend Boscawen(1862–1935)
  • 1925
  • William Rickatson Dykes (1827–1925)
  • George Yeld (1845–1938)
  • 1926
  • Herbert George Alexander (orchid grower)
  • 1929
  • Sir William Lawrence(1870–1934), Lionel de Rothschild (1882–1942)

    • 1930–1939

  • 1931
  • Laura McLaren, Baroness Aberconway (1854–1933)
  • 1933
  • Frederick William Millard (1864–1964)
  • 1934
  • Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway (1879–1953)
  • 1935
  • Amos Perry (1871–1953), of Perry's Plant Farm
  • 1936
  • Stephenson Robert Clarke (1862–1948), of Borde Hill
  • James Comber (1866–1953), of Nymans, Handcross
  • 1939
  • Charles Percival Raffill M.B.E.(1876–1951), Curator, Kew Gardens

    • 1940–1949

  • 1940
  • Sir Frederick Claude Stern (1884–1967) – Highdown chalk garden
  • 1941
  • Edwin Lawrence Hillier – Hillier Nurseries
  • 1942
  • Lady Iris Lawrence
  • 1944
  • John Hutchinson (1884–1972)
  • Arthur Algernon Dorrien-Smith(1876–1955)
  • 1945
  • Fred Streeter (1879–1975) – horticulturalist and broadcaster
  • 1946
  • Vera Higgins (1892–1962)
  • 1948
  • Wilfrid Fox (1875–1962) – Winkworth Arboretum
  • 1949
  • Harry Higgott Thomas (1876–1956) – Editor of Popular Gardening

    • 1950–1959

  • 1952
  • Albert Maurice Amsler (1877–1952) – Eton
  • 1953
  • Archibald Park Balfour
  • C Edward Hudson
  • 1955
  • Lilian Snelling (1879–1972)
  • Robert L. Scarlett : for his contributions to horticultural experimental work in Scotland & United Kingdom.
  • 1957
  • William MacDonald Campbell
  • John Scott Lennox Gilmour (1906–1995)
  • Harold Roy Fletcher(1907–1978), Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  • Harold Hillier (1905–1985) – Hillier Nurseries
  • 1958
  • Frank P. Knight (1903–1985), Director of Wisley Garden

    • 1960–1969

  • 1960
  • Maurice Mason (1912–1993)
  • 1961
  • Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900–2002)
  • Charles McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway (1913–2003)
  • Sir Edward Bolitho of Trengwainton, Penzance
  • William Gregor MacKenzie, curator of Chelsea Physic Garden
  • 1963
  • Sir James Horlick (1886–1972) of The Island of Gigha
  • 1964
  • Hans Hvass – Danish writer on natural history
  • Gwendolyn Anley
  • 1965
  • Beatrix Havergal (1901–1980)
  • William T. Stearn (1911–2001)
  • 1967
  • Arthur Hellyer (1902–1993) – RHS. Horticultural writer and journalist.
  • Sir Giles Rolls Loder, 3rd Baronet (1914–1999) of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham
  • 1968
  • Graham Stuart Thomas (1909–2003)

    • 1970–1979

  • 1970
  • Roy Hay (1910–1989)
  • Alan F. Mitchell (1922–1995)
  • 1971
  • Alan Bloom (1906–2005)
  • Patrick Synge (1910–1982)
  • Frances Perry (1907–1993)
  • 1973
  • Julia Clements
  • 1974
  • Roy Copeman Elliott (Alpine gardener)
  • Martin O. Slocock
  • 1975
  • Valerie Finnis (1924–2006)
  • 1976
  • Marie, Lady Loder of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham
  • John Pilkington Hudson (1910–2007)
  • Christopher D. Brickell
  • 1977
  • Mrs Desmond Underwood
  • Percy Thrower (1913–1988), Television gardener
  • 1978
  • W Martin Robinson, vegetable expert.
  • 1979
  • Christopher Lloyd (1921–2006)

    • 1980–1989

  • 1980
  • Sheila Macqueen – Flower arranger
  • Leonard Broadbent (1916–2002) – Professor in Biology at the University of Bath
  • 1981
  • John Bond (1932–2001) – Keeper of Windsor Great Park and the Savill Gardens
  • Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, 3rd Baronet (1894–1972) and Lady Heathcoat-Amory (1901–1997)
  • 1983
  • J.S. Mattock
  • 1984
  • Kath Dryden (−2009) – alpine plant expert
  • 1985
  • Adrian Bloom – Bressingham Steam and Gardens
  • Fred Whitsey (1919–2009)- Gardening correspondent of The Daily Telegraph
  • Douglas Mackay Henderson (1927–2007), Keeper, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
  • 1986
  • Lady Anne Berry (1919–)
  • Robin A.E. Herbert (1934–) Former President of RHS
  • John B. Simmons (1937–)
  • 1987
  • Beth Chatto (1923–)
  • W.L. Banks
  • 1988
  • Roy Lancaster (1937–)
  • 1989
  • Carolyn Hardy (1930–2016)- Chairman, National Gardens Scheme
  • A.D. Shilling

    • 1990–1999

  • 1990
  • Sylvia Crowe(1901–1997)
  • D.J. Fuller
  • 1991
  • Frederick Alkmund Roach (1909–2004)
  • Miriam Rothschild (1908–2005)
  • P. Cox
  • B. Mathew
  • D.J. Sales
  • 1993
  • Alan Hardy (1926–1999) – Sandling Estate
  • Mary Shirville Newnes
  • Charles Notcutt (1935–2015)
  • 1994
  • James Smart – of Marwood Hill Garden
  • Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe (1900–1996) – Landscape Designer
  • 1995
  • Raymond J Evison(1944–)
  • Helen Robinson (1919–2004) – Hyde Hall
  • 1996
  • Penelope Hobhouse (1929–)
  • John G. Hillier – Hillier Nurseries
  • C.R.M. Notcutt
  • 1997
  • Mary Grierson (1912–2012) – Botanical artist
  • J.W. Blanchard
  • Earl of Selborne
  • 1998
  • Joyce Stewart (1936–2011) – Director of Horticulture, RHS
  • Rosemary Verey (1918–2001)
  • 1999
  • Sir Ghillean Tolmie Prance (1937–)
  • H. Moggridge
  • A. Moon
  • G.H. Rae

    • 2000–present

  • 2001
  • P. Erskine
  • 2002
  • David Austin (1926–) for his rose breeding
  • 2003
  • Peter Beales (1936–2013) for his rose breeding and media promotion of gardening
  • Peter Seabrook (1935–) for his rose breeding
  • Andrew Dunn for his pioneering of virus-free rootstock
  • 2004
  • Ray Bilton for his work with orchid hybrids
  • David S. Ingram (1941–) for his pioneering research into plant diseases
  • Alan Titchmarsh for his broadcasting and authorial gardening educational outreach
  • 2005
  • Martin Lane Fox for his work in landscape garden design
  • Tony Lord for his work as a garden photographer and horticultural consultant
  • Edmund Leopold de Rothschild for his work with rhododendron hybrids
  • Tom Wood for his administrative work promoting horticulture
  • 2006
  • Jim Buttress, for his work as a garden show judge
  • Sibylle Kreutzberger, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent
  • Pamela Schwerdt, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent
  • Dr. Henry Oakeley, for his scientific work on orchids, the genera Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa
  • 2007
  • Sir Richard Carew Pole (1938–) – former RHS President
  • Colin Ellis – "for his long and distinguished service since 1983 with RHS Council and numerous committees."
  • Christopher Grey-Wilson – for "his many achievements as botanist, photographer, botanical explorer and author of many books and articles."
  • Brian Self – "for his lifetime of service to amateur and professional fruit growers."
  • 2008
  • John Ravenscroft – "for his plantsmanship, entrepreneurial talent and encyclopaedic knowledge of plants."
  • 2009
  • HRH The Prince of Wales- "for his passion for plants, sustainable gardening and the environment."
  • Lady Skelmersdale
  • Lord Howick
  • John Humphris
  • 2010
  • John Massey – "for his valuable contribution to plantbreeding "
  • Peter R. Dawson
  • Michael Hickson
  • Robert T. Hillier
  • Dowager Marchioness Salisbury
  • 2011
  • Giles Coode-Adams
  • Maurice C. Foster
  • Richard Webb
  • 2012
  • Stephen Blackmore
  • David Clark
  • John Parker
  • Alice Boyd, Viscountess of Merton
  • 2013
  • Nigel Colborn
  • Brian Humphrey
  • 2014
  • Chris Sanders
  • 2015 Not awarded
  • 2016
  • Johan Hermans
  • Mark Flanagan (posthumously)

    • References

    Victoria Medal of Honour Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA