IN MEMORIAM: PETER SEABROOK 1935-2022
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of the much-loved and respected gardening writer and broadcaster Peter Seabrook on Friday 14 January 2022, aged 86.
Peter John Seabrook MBE, a founder member of the British Association of Landscape Industries, was well known in the horticulture industry and familiar to many as the face of BBC Gardeners’ World, Pebble Mill at One and for coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. His daughter Alison Seabrook Moore described him as "an inspiration" and said that "he was working at full throttle until the end."
Peter was passionate about horticulture from an early age, taking up employment in the industry from the age of 16. He studied horticulture at Writtle College in Essex, earning a diploma in 1956 and he then started his broadcasting career in 1965. He began on radio with the BBC featuring on Gardeners’ Question Time and Your Garden and started to appear on television from 1975, presenting programmes including Gardeners' World, Pebble Mill at One and coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show. In America he hosted The Victory Garden on PBS for over 20 years. Peter wrote a gardening column in The Sun newspaper for over 40 years.
Peter was awarded an MBE in 2005 for his services and held three Royal Horticultural Society Awards: the Victoria Medal of Honour, Associate of Honour and the Harlow Carr Medal (for services to Northern Horticulture).
In 2018 Peter received an Honorary Degree from Writtle University College. He was honoured for being an ambassador for the University College and for his contributions to the horticultural industry. A local resident, he maintained strong links with Writtle since completing his diploma and was awarded a Fellowship in 1997.
Professor Tim Middleton, Vice-Chancellor of Writtle University College, said at the time:
“Peter has been a fantastic ambassador for the University College and we thank him for enriching the learning of our students over many years."
The BBC reported that his children said in a joint statement:
"He leaves a big gap in our lives. We are grateful that he was able to live a long and active life, pursuing what he loved right up to the end.
"The messages of appreciation that have come from people who worked with him - some going back many years and some very recent - are overwhelming."
Wayne Grills, Chief Executive, British Association of Landscape Industries commented:
“Peter was a founding member of the Association, and we perhaps wouldn’t exist today some 50 years on if it wasn’t for him and many of his colleagues of that day. Having both met and worked with Peter over many years, he was an extraordinary individual who always demonstrated his great passion for the industry and was a stalwart supporter of the Association. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time but hope they take some comfort in knowing that he has left a great legacy for everyone in our industry.”
Peter will be sorely missed by everyone in the horticulture community, where he was a popular and much respected colleague and friend. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his family and friends.