Victoria Medal of Honour
This article is about the Royal Horticultural Society award, see
Victoria Medals for other uses.
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[1]
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 awardees in other years.
Awards
1897 - The first 60 medallists
The first 60 medals were awarded on 26 October 1897[2]:
- 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[3]
- 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
- 1902
- 1904
- Edward Mawley (1842-1916)
- 1906
1910-1919
1920-1929
1930-1939
1940-1949
1950-1959
- 1953
- 1955
- Lilian Snelling [7]
- Robert L. Scarlett : for his contributions to horticultural experimental work in Scotland & United Kingdom.
1960-1969
- 1961
- 1964
- Hans Hvass - Danish writer on natural history
- 1968
1970-1979
1978 W Martin Robinson vegetable expert.
1980-1989
- 1984
- Kath Dryden - alpine plant expert[15]
- 1985
- Adrian Bloom[16]
- Fred Whitsey
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
1990-1999
2000-present
- 2002
- 2003
- Peter Beales for his rose breeding and media promotion of gardening[25]
- Peter Seabrook for his rose breeding[25]
- Andrew Dunn for his pioneering of virus-free rootstock[25]
- 2004
- Ray Bilton for his work with orchid hybrids [1]
- David S. Ingram for his pioneering research into plant diseases[1]
- Alan Titchmarsh for his broadcasting and authorial gardening educational outreach[1][26]
- 2005
- 2006
- Jim Buttress, for his work as a garden show judge[29]
- Miss Sibylle Kreutzberger, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent[29]
- Miss Pamela Schwerdt, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent[29]
- Dr. Henry Oakeley, for his scientific work on orchids, the genera Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa[29]
- 2007
- Sir Richard Carew Pole - former RHS President[30]
- Colin Ellis - "for his long and distinguished service since 1983 with RHS Council and numerous committees."[30]
- Christopher Grey-Wilson - for "his many achievements as botanist, photographer, botanical explorer and author of many books and articles."[30]
- Brian Self - "for his lifetime of service to amateur and professional fruit growers."[30]
- 2008
- John Ravenscroft - "for his plantsmanship, entrepreneurial talent and encyclopaedic knowledge of plants."[31]
- 2009
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d Summary of the 200th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society - Recipients of Awards for 2004
- ^ Dr Brent Elliott, Victoria Medal of Honour 1897 - 1997, The Royal Horticultural Society, (London:1997)
- ^ Penrhyn Castle (Wales) - © Gardens-Guide.com - OPEN GARDENS UK & Ireland - Features, Admission, Maps, History, and Local Amenities
- ^ Desmond, Ray and Ellwood, Christine (1994) Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists: Including Plant Collectors, Flower Painters and Garden Designers Taylor & Francis Ltd. and The Natural History Museum, London, UK, p. 166 ISBN 0-85066-843-3
- ^ "RHS Garden Wisley: Plants of Current Interest" Royal Horticultural Society 2004
- ^ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: History and Heritage: People: Botanists: John Hutchinson
- ^ "Publications: The Garden July 2003" Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ "Publications: The Garden May 2002: News" Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ "Publications: The Garden June 2003: Obituaries" Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ "Graham Stuart Thomas" Timber Press
- ^ Colour Dictionary of Garden Plants Book, About the authors
- ^ Leapman, Michael (5 April 2005) "Obituary: Alan Bloom: Innovative Norfolk nurseryman" The Independent London, UK, April 5, 2005
- ^ "Tributes to a renowned plantsman" 31 March 2005 BBC News
- ^ "Obituary: Christopher Lloyd" The Times January 30, 2006
- ^ a b c d The Garden, August 2009, page 511 (Royal Horticultural Society)
- ^ "Adrian Bloom" Timber Press
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Publications: The Garden August 2002: Honours for horticulturists" Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ "BBC Gardening: TV and Radio: Presenter biographies: J to L: Roy Lancaster" BBC Gardening
- ^ "Rhododendron People Page" Rhododendron And Azalea News June 1999
- ^ Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies Board
- ^ Erica Hunningher, The Independent Rosemary Verey obituary, 7 June 2001
- ^ "David Austin English Roses" ICONS a Portrait of England
- ^ " The world's favourite flower - grown in Shropshire" BBC Shropshire April 2002
- ^ a b c "Royal Horticultural Society awards top gardening gongs" Royal Horticultural Society 2003 from Web Archive
- ^ "Alan Titchmarsh To Judge Trinity House's Lighthouse Photography Competition" Trinity House
- ^ a b c d "Trustees’ Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2005/06" Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ a b c d "RHS honours four with horticulture’s highest accolade" 1 July 2005 Royal Horticultural Society
- ^ a b c d RHS honours champions of organic gardening, orchids and community horticulture June 29, 2006
- ^ a b c d The Garden, July 2007, RHS news - Royal presentations for Society awards
- ^ RHS awards Awards nominations
- ^ Prince of Wales VMH Award
External links