John was also a long term member of the Royal Horticultural Society. One of his favourite spots to visit was the RHS garden at Wisley and, closer to home, Hyde Hall at Rettenden. John’s love of English fruit led him to plant 50 fruit trees and bushes in their garden to compliment the old apple trees; their house in Leigh-on-Sea was built on an old orchard. Each spring John would delicately use a tiny paint brush to pollinate the two peach trees which came into blossom before the bees emerged from hibernation. He did so welcome being able to pick and eat a home grown peach.