PRESIDENT
HUGH JOHNSON OBE
The MPGA would like to warmly welcome Hugh Johnson OBE as our new President. At the same time we would like to thank Lord Birkett, the outgoing President, for his many years of tremendous support and commitment.
Hugh Johnson has been writing about wine, trees, gardening and travel in books and magazines since the 1960s. He is a highly regarded and popular writer and was awarded the OBE for services to Winemaking and Horticulture in 2007
His first book Wine was published in 1966. For two years in the late sixties, he edited "Queen", the fashion magazine, but left to write The World Atlas of Wine which was published in 1971. This was followed by a succession of books on wine and gardening, including the International Book of Trees in 1973 and The Principles of Gardening in 1979. However, he is perhaps best known for his Pocket Wine Book, which has been published annually since 1977.
Having developed his 12 acre alkaline clay garden in Essex, which includes many rare specimens and collections of Prunus, Birches, Robinias and pines, Hugh has opened his garden to the public each year through the National Garden Scheme enabling everyone to enjoy the walks, planting and superb views that his landscape has to offer.
Hugh also wrote his very popular feature "Tradescants Diary" for over 30 years. This first appeared in the Royal Horticultural Society’s magazine "The Garden" in June 1975, and is famous for it’s mix of whimsical, topical and anecdotes. The much loved writings show Hugh’s passion for gardening and were subsequently published as two anthologies: Hugh Johnson on Gardening and Hugh Johnson in the Garden. "Trad’s Diary" is now published quarterly in "Hortus" magazine, as well as on line
Hugh continues to write through his website and in 2011 won an award for the ‘Best Reference Book of The Year’ from the Garden Media Guild for his book: Trees – A Lifetime Journey through Forest, Woods, and Gardens.
We are delighted to have Hugh Johnson as our new President and look forward to a very interesting and successful collaboration.
COMMITTEE
Chairman: William Fraser OBE
Secretary: Helen Knight
Treasurer: Marjorie Dowbiggin
Hon Legal Adviser: Vivien Robinson QC
PR and Publicity: Shirley Brihi
Patrick Hegarty
Mark Lane MVO
Janet Owen MBE
Stephen Preston
David Sadler MBE