Dr Alfred Evans

Published on Tuesday 2 October 2001 01:00

Dr Alfred Evans, horticulturalist, curator, writer, broadcaster

Born: 6 May, 1920, in Broughty Ferry Died: 15 September, 2001, in Edinburgh, aged 81

ALFRED Evans played a prominent role in horticulture in Scotland and beyond throughout his life.

He was born in Broughty Ferry, a place dear to his heart and to which in latter years he frequently returned - even to have his hair cut and purchase violets of the chocolate variety, product of a well-known baker in town.

Always interested in plants and gardens, he followed in the steps of his father - a jobbing gardener. He commenced his training in horticulture at University College, Dundee, in 1936 before moving to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, as a student. War interrupted his training and he served in the RAF for six years, four of which were spent in the Middle East - where his love of bulbs and plants from that area began.

After the war, he returned to Edinburgh and completed his course. He rose to become assistant curator in charge of the arboretum, alpine and herbaceous departments at the Royal Botanic Garden and was responsible for the hardy-plant collections. Such was his outstanding knowledge that he set about preparing a catalogue of plants grown at RBG for distribution to gardens and botanical institutions worldwide. The alpine collections, the rock gardens and peat garden in Edinburgh are of world renown. His particular love and interest in certain groups of plants meant the garden was famous for the collections he built up of Ericacea, Gentiana, Lilium, Meconopsis, Trillium and Primula.

He was someone special, a perfectionist, a born teacher and communicator who made a unique contribution to horticulture worldwide. He was held in high esteem by staff at Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. In latter years, wherever he travelled to visit gardens at home and abroad there was always one of his RBG "boys" or "angels" (lady gardeners) there to greet him. Sometimes the "boys" or his "angels" were almost as old as himself!

His friendly personality made him a popular judge at flower shows and he was a wonderful lecturer. Every lecture or talk was prepared with minute attention to detail and delivered with enthusiasm, be it at a local gardening club or to a large international conference.

For over 60 years he spoke and lectured to horticultural societies and clubs worldwide and was invited on many lecture tours to Canada and the US - nine tours over the years. He appeared frequently on BBC TV and radio and for three years hosted gardening programmes for Scottish Television and over a period of ten years was a regular contributor on BBC Radio Scotland. His weekly and monthly gardening articles appeared in The Scotsman over a 20-year period.

His publications were numerous and erudite. Articles appeared in the journal of the Scottish Rock Garden Club, the bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society, The Garden (journal of the Royal Horticultural Society) and many other international societies as well as chapters in horticulture encyclopaedias and dictionaries on bulbs and peat and shade-loving plants and gardens. He will be forever remembered for his famous book - The Peat Garden and its Plants (Dents 1974) - dedicated to his wife, Beth. A book much sought after and sadly out of print, but still the reference book used and worshipped by so many enthusiasts of these wonderful plants.

Alfred Evans’s expertise and ability to communicate with people of all walks of life made him a highly respected and popular botanical tour guide and he led parties to all parts of the world. He cruised round Britain visiting gardens for the National Trust of Scotland and for the American Horticultural Society on numerous occasions. He accompanied tours and cruises to the bulb fields of Holland and garden cruises to the Canary Islands and Madeira and also a tour to Norway and the North Cape in search of the native flora. It was not always calm and serene, and I can well remember Alf holding the projector steady with two hands while giving a lecture.

His favourite area was the Eastern Mediterranean and in all he took part in over 20 trips to seek out the wild flowers of the countries bordering that sea and the many islands in the area. His knowledge and memory of a region was uncanny. On a visit with him to north Greece, he woke feeling unwell and decided to stay in bed - a rare occurrence. Armed with detailed instructions to find and photograph a certain plant, we set off to return in the evening unsuccessful and disappointed. Next morning, he led us directly to the rock outcrop where the plant grew, in spite of a foot of snow on Mount Olympus. Such was the man!

He was invited by the Japan-ese Rock Garden Society to see displays of rock gardens at the Osaka Festival and toured with members photographing alpines in the wild in Honshu and Hokkaido. He later led a tour for their club to the Alps of central Europe and the Pyrenees.

A journey to South Africa to view the wild spring flowers was the last of his long-haul journeys, but in May of this year he was showing the wonderful alpine flowers and gardens of Italy to a tour party - sadly his last journey in search of his beloved flowers.

With such a distinguished career, honours came readily and were richly deserved. For his work with Lilliaceae he was awarded the Lyttel Lily Cup (1978). In 1980 he was made an Associate of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society. The Alpine Garden Society, of which he was a vice president, presented him with the Lyttel Cup for his contribution and work with alpine plants.

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society honoured him with the Scottish Horticultural Medal (SHM). He was a past vice-president of the society. An honorary doctorate was conferred on him in 1992 by the Memorial University of Newfoundland for his work as consultant and adviser to many gardens, including the Botanic Gardens at St Johns, Newfoundland. In 1995, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded him with the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH).

Alf Evans’s love of plants, especially alpine and rock-garden plants, continued in his spare time. He was honorary president of the Scottish Rock Garden Club - a club that he loved and to which he gave a lifetime of service. During his term in office laid the sure foundations from which it has grown and flourished to this day. He was the first recipient of the club’s Golden Jubilee Salver for outstanding service presented by the Alpine Garden Society in its golden jubilee year (1983). He was a very popular chairman of the 5th International Rock Garden Conference - "Alpines 81" - organised and run jointly by the SRGC and AGS. He also was editor of the "Alpines 81" Conference report.

He enjoyed attending meetings and flower shows, to talk to members and visitors, where his approachable manner and friendliness gained him a wide circle of plant lovers. He readily gave advice and shared his vast experiences with beginners and experts alike. He lived life to the full and he loved to be with people. Wherever Alf was there was fun and laughter.

He married Beth Tulloch in 1953 and set up home within sight of the Royal Botanic Garden - a home where friends were always made welcome. They raised their two sons, Campbell and Gareth, but sadly Beth died in 1981.

A family man at heart, he was proud of his sons, their wives and his six grandchildren, and the family can be justly proud of him. He was a tower of strength to his niece, Susan, and his sister, Cathie. On one of his trips in later years, he met Vicky, a lovely lady, a caring companion and special friend to all the family.

Alfred Evans’s like will never be seen again. He will be sadly missed by many.