Victoria Medal of Honour

The Victoria Medal of Honour ("VMH") is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society^[1]

The award was established in 1897 "in perpetual remembrance of Her Majesty’s glorious reign, and to enable the Council to confer honour on British horticulturists." The Society's rules state that only sixty-three horticulturists can hold the VMH at any given time, in commemoration of the sixty-three years of Queen Victoria's reign. Therefore the honour is not awarded every year, but may be made to multiple recipients in other years.

Awards

1897 - The first 60 medallists

The first 60 medals were awarded on 26 October 1897:^[2]

• John Gilbert Baker (1834–1920)
• Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853–1922)
• Peter Barr (1826–1909)
• Archibald F Barron (1835–1903)
• Edward John Beale (1835–1902)
• William Boxall (1844–1910)
• William Bull (1828–1902)
• George Bunyard (1841–1919)
• Frederick William Burbidge (1847–1905)
• William Crump (1843–1932)
• Richard Dean (1830–1905)
• George A Dickson (c1835 - 1909)
• Henry Honeywood D'ombrain (1818–1905)
• Charles Thomas Druery (1843–1917)
• Malcolm Dunn (1837–1899)
• Henry Nicholson Ellacombe (1822–1916)
• Henry John Elwes (1846–1922)
• Michael Foster (1836–1907)
• John Fraser (1821–1900)
• George Gordon (1841–1914)
• John Heal (c1841 - 1925)
• George Henslow (1835–1925)
• Hermann Carl Gottlieb Herbst (c1830 - 1904)
• Samuel Reynolds Hole (1819–1904)
• Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911)
• Francis Daltry Horner (c1838 - 1912)
• James Hudson (1846–1932)
• Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932)
• Peter Kay (c1853 - 1909)
• John Laing (1823–1900)
• James McIndoe (1836–1910)
• Charles Maries (1851–1902)
• Henry Ernest Milner (1845–1906)
• Edwin Molyneux (1851–1921)
• George Monro (c1847 - 1920)
• Fredrick William Moore (1857–1949)
• Daniel Morris (1844–1933)
• George Nicholson (1847–1908)
• James O'Brien (1842–1930)
• Paul George (1841–1921)
• William Paul (1822–1905)
• T Francis Rivers (1831–1899)
• Lionel Walter Rothschild (1868–1937)
• Frederick Sander (1847–1920)
• Henry Schröder (1824–1910)
• John Seden (1840–1921)
• Nathaniel Newman Sherwood (1846–1916)
• James Smith (1837–1903)
• Martin Ridley Smith ( - 1908)
• Walter Speed (c1835 - 1921) Head Gardener at Penrhyn Castle, Wales^[3]
• Arthur Warwick Sutton (1854–1925)
• Owen Thomas (1843–1923)
• William Thompson (1823–1903)
• David Thomson (1823–1909)
• Harry Turner (c1848 - 1906)
• Ellen Willmott(1858–1934)
• George Fergusson Wilson (1822–1902)
• Charles Wolley-Dod (1826–1904)
• John Wright (1836–1916)
• George Wythes (1851–1916)

1900-1909

• 1902
  • Mordecai Cubitt Cooke^[4]
• 1904
  • Edward Mawley (1842-1916)
• 1906
  • Harry Veitch

1910-1919

• 1917
  • Peter Veitch

1920-1929

• 1921
  • George Forrest^[5]
• 1922
  • Arthur Townshend Boscawen^[6]
• 1925
  • William Rickatson Dykes^[7]
• 1926
  • Herbert George Alexander (orchid grower)

1930-1939

• 1931
  • Laura McLaren, Baroness Aberconway
• 1933
  • Frederick William Millard
• 1934
  • 2nd Baron Aberconway
• 1936
  • Stephenson Robert Clarke^[8]
• 1939
  • Charles Percival Raffill^[9]

1940-1949

• 1944
  • John Hutchinson^[10]
  • Arthur Algernon Dorrien-Smith
• 1945
  • Fred Streeter (1879–1975), horticulturalist and broadcaster
• 1949
  • Harry Higgott Thomas

1950-1959

• 1953
  • Archibald Park Balfour
  • C Edward Hudson^[11]
• 1955
  • Lilian Snelling^[12]
  • Robert L. Scarlett : for his contributions to horticultural experimental work in Scotland & United Kingdom.
• 1957
  • William MacDonald Campbell^[13]

1960-1969

• 1961
  • Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother^[14]
  • 3rd Baron Aberconway
  • Sir Edward Bolitho of Trengwainton, Penzance
  • William Gregor MacKenzie, curator of Chelsea Physic Garden^[15]
• 1963
  • Sir James Horlick of The Island of Gigha^[16]
• 1964
  • Hans Hvass - Danish writer on natural history
• 1967
  • Arthur Hellyer - RHS. horticultural writer and journalist.
• 1968
  • Graham Stuart Thomas^[17][18]
  • Sir Giles Rolls Loder, 3rd Baronet of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham^[17][19][20]

1970-1979

• 1970
  • Roy Hay^[21]
• 1971
  • Alan Bloom^[22][23]
  • Patrick Synge

1974 Roy Copeman Elliott (Alpine gardener)

• 1975
  • Valerie Finnis^[24]
• 1976
  • Marie, Lady Loder of Leonardslee, Lower Beeding, Horsham^[17][20][25]
• 1978
  • W Martin Robinson, vegetable expert.
• 1979
  • Christopher Lloyd^[26]

1980-1989

• 1981
  • John Bond - Keeper of Windsor Great Park and the Savill Gardens^[27]
• 1984
  • Kath Dryden - alpine plant expert^[28]
• 1985
  • Adrian Bloom^[29]
  • Fred Whitsey
• 1986
  • Lady Anne Berry^[30]
• 1987
  • Beth Chatto^[31]
• 1988
  • Roy Lancaster^[32]

1990-1999

• 1991
  • Frederick Alkmund Roach^[33]
• 1993
  • Alan Hardy^[34]
• 1993
  • Charles Notcutt
• 1999
  • Ghillean Tolmie Prance^[35]
  • Rosemary Verey (1918–2001)^[36]

2000-present

• 2002
  • David Austin (2002) for his rose breeding^[37][38]
• 2003^[39]
  • Peter Beales for his rose breeding and media promotion of gardening
  • Peter Seabrook for his rose breeding
  • Andrew Dunn for his pioneering of virus-free rootstock
• 2004^[1]
  • Ray Bilton for his work with orchid hybrids
  • David S. Ingram for his pioneering research into plant diseases
  • Alan Titchmarsh for his broadcasting and authorial gardening educational outreach^[40]
• 2005^[41]
  • Martin Lane Fox for his work in landscape garden design
  • Tony Lord for his work as a garden photographer and horticultural consultant
  • Edmund Leopold de Rothschild for his work with rhododendron hybrids
  • Tom Wood for his administrative work promoting horticulture
• 2006^[42]
  • Jim Buttress, for his work as a garden show judge
  • Miss Sibylle Kreutzberger, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent
  • Miss Pamela Schwerdt, for her work at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent
  • Dr. Henry Oakeley, for his scientific work on orchids, the genera Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa
• 2007^[43]
  • Sir Richard Carew Pole - former RHS President
  • Colin Ellis - "for his long and distinguished service since 1983 with RHS Council and numerous committees."
  • Christopher Grey-Wilson - for "his many achievements as botanist, photographer, botanical explorer and author of many books and articles."
  • Brian Self - "for his lifetime of service to amateur and professional fruit growers."
• 2008
  • John Ravenscroft - "for his plantsmanship, entrepreneurial talent and encyclopaedic knowledge of plants."
• 2009
  • HRH The Prince of Wales- "for his passion for plants, sustainable gardening and the environment."^[44]
  • Lady Skelmersdale - July 2009^[45]
  • Lord Howick - July 2009^[45]
  • John Humphris - July 2009^[45]
• 2010
  • John Massey - "for his valuable contribution to plantbreeding "
• 2011^[46]
  • Giles Coode-Adams - July 2011
  • Maurice Foster - July 2011
  • Richard Webb - July 2011
• 2012^[47]
  • Stephen Blackmore
  • David Clark
  • John Parker
  • Alice Boyd, Viscountess of Merton
• 2013^[48]
  • Nigel Colborn
  • Brian Humphrey
• 2014
  • Chris Sanders^[49]
• 2015 Not awarded

References

1. Royal Horticultural Society (2005), "Recipients of Awards for 2004", Summary of the 200th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society
2. Dr Brent Elliott, Victoria Medal of Honour 1897 - 1997, The Royal Horticultural Society, (London:1997)
3. Penrhyn Castle (Wales) - © Gardens-Guide.com - OPEN GARDENS UK & Ireland - Features, Admission, Maps, History, and Local Amenities
4. Desmond, Ray and Ellwood, Christine (1994) Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists: Including Plant Collectors, Flower Painters and Garden Designers Taylor & Francis Ltd. and The Natural History Museum, London, UK, p. 166 ISBN 0-85066-843-3
5. "RHS Garden Wisley: Plants of Current Interest". Royal Horticultural Society. 2004. Archived from the original on 16 January 2006.
6. Fordham, Ray (2003). Canon Boscawen of Ludgvan and his Contributions to Horticulture. In Ludgvan; A Century of Horticulture 1903–2003. Ludgvan: Ludgvan Horticultural Society. pp. 17–21.
7. "Tulipa". Cambridge Botanic Garden. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
8. Harrison, Helen (2012). "Plant hunting for Borde Hill". The Plantsman. No. June. pp. 90–95. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015.
9. Raffill was also honoured in 1934 as an Associate of Honour of the Royal Horticultural Society (AHRHS).
10. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: History and Heritage: People: Botanists: John Hutchinson
11. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=thmPzIltAV8C&pg=PA362&dq=c+edward+hudson+vmh&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uidpVJ_iIJbzasGGgcgK&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=c%20edward%20hudson%20vmh&f=false
12. "Publications: The Garden July 2003" Royal Horticultural Society
13. "In Memoriam Volume 8, Number 69, (1964)" Kew Guild
14. "Publications: The Garden May 2002: News" Royal Horticultural Society
15. Obituary: Bill MacKenzie The Independent, 20 October 1995
16. "Awards". RHS Journal: 146. April 1964.
17. "Publications: The Garden June 2003: Obituaries" Royal Horticultural Society
18. "Graham Stuart Thomas" Timber Press
19. [RHS Journal, February 20th 1968]
20. "Sir Giles Loder" Independent
21. Colour Dictionary of Garden Plants Book, About the authors
22. Leapman, Michael (5 April 2005) "Obituary: Alan Bloom: Innovative Norfolk nurseryman" The Independent London, UK, April 5, 2005
23. "Tributes to a renowned plantsman" 31 March 2005 BBC News
24. Obituary Royal Horticultural Society 2006
25. [RHS Journal, February 1977]
26. "Obituary: Christopher Lloyd" The Times January 30, 2006
27. "Obituary: John Bond". The Telegraph. 16 February 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
28. The Garden, August 2009, page 511 (Royal Horticultural Society)
29. "Adrian Bloom" Timber Press
30. "RHS Green Manual"
31. "Publications: The Garden August 2002: Honours for horticulturists" Royal Horticultural Society
32. "BBC Gardening: TV and Radio: Presenter biographies: J to L: Roy Lancaster" BBC Gardening
33. "Obituary: Frederick Roach". www.telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 31 July 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
34. "Rhododendron People Page" Rhododendron And Azalea News June 1999
35. Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies Board
36. Erica Hunningher, The Independent Rosemary Verey obituary, 7 June 2001
37. "David Austin English Roses" ICONS a Portrait of England
38. " The world's favourite flower - grown in Shropshire" BBC Shropshire April 2002
39. "Royal Horticultural Society awards top gardening gongs". Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 29 April 2004.
40. "Alan Titchmarsh To Judge Trinity House's Lighthouse Photography Competition" Trinity House Archived September 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
41. "RHS honours four with horticulture's highest accolade". Royal Horticultural Society. 1 July 2005. Archived from the original on 20 November 2005.
42. "RHS honours champions of organic gardening, orchids and community horticulture". Royal Horticultural Society. 29 June 2006. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006.
43. The Garden, July 2007, RHS news - Royal presentations for Society awards
44. "Prince of Wales receives VMH". Royal Horticultural Society. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009.
45. The Garden, August 2009, page 512 (Royal Horticultural Society)
46. "RHS AGM Minutes July 2011". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
47. "Awards for outstanding contribution to horticulture". Royal Horticultural Society. 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012.
48. "Outstanding contributions to horticulture". Royal Horticultural Society. 19 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013.
49. "2014 RHS Awards for Exceptional Contributions to Horticulture Announced". Royal Horticultural Society. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

External links

• "RHS People Awards". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 19 June 2016.