Jack calls time at nursery (From Gazette & Herald)

Jack calls time at nursery

GARDENER Jack Hunter has retired after 50 years of tending the famous R V Roger's nursery at Pickering.

He spent 40 years at the company's gardens in Whitby Road, Pickering, as a nurseryman and has been the key man at the Malton Road operation despatching Roger's legendry roses to all parts of Britain.

Jack, of Beacon Park, Pickering, has worked for all three generations of the Roger family, whose nursery business is this year celebrating its 90th anniversary.

He started with its founder, Royston Valentine Roger, then worked for his son, Anthony, and more recently for Anthony's son, Ian.

As well as being an expert in rose growing, Jack has helped grow acres of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and alpine plants at the nursery.

He recalls the company supplying many trees to the then new towns of Peter Lee and Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, and others elsewhere in Britain after the Second World War.

DIY expert Jack's first task of his retirement will be to install central heating at his home after which he plans to concentrate on his hobby - gardening!

Updated: 10:26 Wednesday, February 26, 2003