Botanics medal honour for 'inspiring' curator

DAYS after celebrating his 100th birthday, Dr Edward Kemp has been recognised for his contribution to horticulture.

A former curator at the city's Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), he has been given a medal in reward for decades of work, research and tuition.

Dr Kemp celebrated the feat with senior figures from the horticulture industry and city councillors at a new feature at the Inverleith resource. He was described as being the country's "senior horticulturist", and others praised the fact that his appetite for the subject has never waned.

He is the very first recipient of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh medal, a fact staff said was appropriate because of his huge contribution to the garden and the wider subject.

Dr Kemp said: "I am overwhelmed that I should have been presented with this medal at this time of life and so close to my 100th birthday.

"It has been such a privilege to be associated with the garden. Horticulture has been my whole life."

His association with the Botanics dates back to 1932, when he arrived as a student gardener. Within three years he was heavily involved and travelled round the world collecting samples, which had never before been brought to Scotland.

After serving in the Second World War with the Royal Artillery and Intelligence Corps, he was appointed curator of RBGE in 1950, a post he held for 21 years.

During that time he enhanced its international reputation as a centre of excellence and helped develop courses at numerous universities.

He has already been awarded an MBE for his work at the garden, while other achievements include turning a piece of Dundee wasteground into a thriving educational resource.

Prof Stephen Blackmore, RBGE regius keeper, said: "Eddie Kemp is Scotland's senior horticulturist - in every sense. As an outstanding and inspiring teacher, his students went on to success around the world."