Speaker Maurice Baren - My Life in Flowers
Wed, Dec 7th 2022 at 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Maurice gave us a quick tour through his life as a horticulturalist. Speaker Finder John Barrow, Visitors Host, Grace & Banners Richard Bishop, Cash Desk & Sergeant at Arms Peter Meredith
My Life in Flowers
Maurice said that he was interested in flowers from aged 5 year as his father owned a nursery. He went to Ilkley Grammar School but left early without qualifications. Then he did 2 years national service. After this he went to study horticulture at Askham Bryan College.
His first job was at the Valley Gardens in Harrogate. After that he spent 2 years at Kew Gardens, initially in Palm House where the temperature was up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. After that he spent a few months at Golden Acre Park in Bramhope but was not happy there. He then joined the parks and cemetery department in Burnley where he spent 4 years.
From there he went to Birmingham Horticultural College where he spent 6 years. Then between 1974 to 1988 he worked at the parks department of Bradford Council where he was responsible for 600 manual workers.
Since then, he has been involved with Rotary in Bloom, then Britain in Bloom. Following that he became a judge for the European competition "Entente Florale" where he travelled around 11 European Countries judging displays. He also was asked to do a similar job in Canada for 4 years.
Following this quick tour through his life he showed slides of different floral displays all over the world that he had had to judge.
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