University celebrates Gordon’s Golden Jubilee

That was in 1960, just five years after the former college received its Charter as the University of Exeter.

This week, at a special reception at Vice-Chancellor Steve Smith’s campus home, Gordon’s 50 years of service at the University were celebrated with the award of a Long Service Certificate and Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society.

“Gordon’s work has, literally, helped transform the Streatham Campus. He has been an outstanding member of staff and we thank him for his hard work and inspiration. He will be much missed when he leaves us later this year and we wish him all the very best for his retirement,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Gordon was just 15 when he joined the University as an apprentice gardener, straight from Exeter’s Ladysmith School. Early tasks included washing pots and mixing soils.

Since then, he has gone on to win more than 40 medals with the University at the Devon County Show, including a Gold for his floral display at this year’s event. Awarded an MBE in 2002 for services to Higher Education and Horticulture, he has been chairman of the show’s flower tent, a voluntary position, for over a decade.

At the University, as well as overseeing floral arrangements for weddings and other events, he has made bouquets for the Queen and other Royal visitors.

Now aged 65 and foreman of the University’s glasshouses, he is due to retire in September after building up a prodigious work record.

Starting at 7am, Gordon usually works seven days a week all year round, including over Christmas/New Year, only ever taking up to a week’s holiday at a given time. “Plants don’t go home at Christmas,” he says. “Someone needs to look after them then too.”

In retirement, he hopes to add to his collection of botanical photographs and to continue judging flower shows. He already judges at half a dozen shows, including Topsham, Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth.