Ronald Hatton
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Sir Ronald George Hatton (born in Hampstead, July 6, 1886 - East Malling, 11 November 1965) was a highly distinguished pomologist. Born in Yorkshire, his formal education included Brighton College, Exeter School, Oxford University and Wye College. His father Ernest Hatton and maternal grandfather William Pearson were lawyers; his mother Amy was the sister of Karl Pearson).
After leaving Oxford he worked on a farm for a year and then went to Wye College in Kent, where he joined the staff after a period of study. Wye College Fruit Experiment Station later became known as the East Malling Research Station and Hatton became acting director of the station during World War I. He soon became its long-time director.
In 1912, Ronald Hatton initiated the work of classification, testing and standardization of apple tree rootstocks. With the help of Dr Wellington, Hatton sorted out the incorrect naming and mixtures then widespread in apple rootstocks distributed throughout Europe. These verified and distinct apple rootstocks were then distributed throughout the world as Types, initially Type I through Type IX under the name "Malling series".
He was responsible for many scientific papers which were always well written. He also was editor of the Journal of Horticultural Science. Even after his retirement and until his death he was an associate editor of this Journal.
The Imperial (now Commonwealth) Bureau of Fruit Production was established at East Malling with Hatton as the first director and later a consultant director. It's journal, Horticultural Abstracts, has become a standard reference throughout the world.
In the post World War II period he took a prominent part in establishing the National Agricultural Advisory Service (similar to our National Cooperative Extension Service) and the National Fruit Trials, now distinguished because it contains a very large collection of cultivars of various kinds of fruit.
He was honoured by the Queen with a knighthood in 1949. The Royal Horticultural Society awarded him its most famous honour, the Victoria Medal of Honor in 1930. He was awarded many distinctions by institutions abroad.
Hatton was buried in the East Malling Churchyard overlooking the East Malling Station where he spent so much energy and enthusiasm. The East Malling Research Station today stands as a monument to his resourcefulness, foresight, and competence.
