RHS patron the Queen will today present the Victoria Medal of Honour, the highest award that the society can offer, to four recipients at the official opening of the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley.

The VHM was originally introduced as a means of commemorating the length of Queen Victoria’s reign. Only 63 individuals are permitted to hold the award at any one time.

The four new recipients are Sir Richard Carew Pole, Colin Ellis, Christopher Grey-Wilson and Brian Self. Carew Pole, a former RHS president, is honoured for his key role in getting the Glasshouse project off the ground, undertaking integral fundraising for the cause.

Ellis got the nod in recognition of his long service with the RHS Council and a variety of committees. As well as working as a show judge, he is regarded as an authority on Japanese gardens, bonsai and bamboo.

Grey-Wilson collects an award in recognition of his many achievements as a botanist, photographer, botanical explorer and author of many books and articles, according to the RHS. The current editor of the Alpine Garden Society’s journal, he is also a former principal scientific officer at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Meanwhile Brian Self worked for 35 years at East Malling Research in Kent. He is a former member of the RHS Council, and has chaired a variety of committees over the years.

“The RHS annual awards aim to recognise those who help to develop the rich diversity and understanding of plants and gardens that make our world a better place. The Glasshouse is a spectacular addition to Wisley and marks a milestone in the 200-year history of the RHS and as such it is fitting that the official opening has been chosen to award the highest honour that the Society can bestow,” acknowledged RHS president, Peter Buckley.

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