Geoff Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoff Hamilton
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Bust of Hamilton in his garden, Barnsdale Gardens, in Rutland
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| Born | 15 August 1936 |
| Died | 4 August 1996 (aged 59) Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
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| Education | Writtle Agricultural College |
| Employer | BBC |
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Notable work
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Gardeners' World |
| Spouse(s) | Lynda |
| Children | 3 |
Geoff Hamilton (born August 15, 1936 – died August 4, 1996) was a very popular English gardener. He was also a TV presenter and writer. Many people knew him from the BBC show Gardeners' World, which he hosted in the 1980s and 1990s. He helped make gardening fun and easy for everyone.
Early Life and Learning
Geoff Hamilton was born in Stepney, London. He had a twin brother named Tony. When he was two, his family moved to Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. This is where his love for gardening began.
He started by helping in his family's backyard. He also worked at local plant nurseries during school holidays. This helped him learn even more about plants. Later, he went to Writtle College in Essex. In 1959, he earned a special diploma in horticulture, which is the science of growing plants.
After college, Geoff became a nurseryman and a landscape gardener. He even opened his own garden center called "The Hamilton Garden Centre." It was located near Kettering in Northamptonshire. In 1970, he started writing a column for Garden News magazine. He then became the editor of Practical Gardening magazine in 1975. Here, he began to teach people about the benefits of organic gardening. This means growing plants without using man-made chemicals.
Becoming a TV Gardening Star
Geoff Hamilton first appeared on TV in 1970. He presented a show called Gardening Diary for Anglia TV. This led to him being a guest on the BBC show Gardeners' World. From 1979 until he passed away, he was the main presenter of Gardeners' World. He was the longest-serving host of the show.
In 1985, he moved the show's filming location to his own garden. This garden was at Barnsdale Gardens in Oakham, Rutland. He also created other BBC gardening shows. These included The Cottage Garden and The Paradise Garden. Geoff wrote many books that went along with his TV series.
People loved Geoff because he was very practical. He shared his gardening mistakes as well as his successes. He also had a gentle sense of humor. He was one of the first people to strongly support organic gardening. He helped people understand that organic gardening was not strange, but a great way to grow plants.
Readers of Amateur Gardening magazine even voted him "Gardener of the Millennium." He received an honorary Master of Science Degree in 1994.
Geoff's Legacy
Geoff Hamilton had a heart attack in 1995 and took time off to recover. Sadly, he passed away in August 1996 after another heart attack. This happened during a charity bike ride in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. He was buried in Exton, Rutland.
His famous garden at Barnsdale Gardens is still open to visitors today. It has 38 different themed gardens spread over 8 acres. His son, Nick Hamilton, who is also an organic gardener, now runs it. A charity called Geoff Hamilton's New Gardeners' Foundation was also set up. It helps students who want to study practical gardening.
