Geoffrey Wells, described as “a pioneer in early, long-season tomato production”, has died aged 88.
Geoffrey was well known during the 1970s and 1980s as the manager and a director of Man of Ross glasshouse nursery in Goodrich, near Ross on Wye in Herefordshire.
His funeral, held last Wednesday at St Giles church in Goodrich, was attended by many family, friends and former colleagues and contacts in the horticultural industry.
Geoffrey was an active member of the Tomato Working Party. He is also credited as the first commercial grower to install a carbon bulk tank on a glasshouse nursery before the days that natural gas was generally available for carbon enrichment.
Another first was in establishing a breeding unit on the nursery for Encarsia formosa, working on advice from research worker Jo Hussy.
Bernard Sparkes of Melrow Salads told FPJ: “Geoffrey was a well-respected grower with a keen eye for detail and an appetite for innovation, as well as being an inspiring manager.
“Geoffrey was at the forefront of the development of high wire training for tomatoes - introducing the ABT wire ‘bobbins’ we all became so reliant on.”
Geoffrey leaves behind his wife Phyllis and four children.
FPJ’s condolences to Geoffrey’s family, friends and colleagues.
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