John Gilmour

1906-1986. Plant taxonomist and horticulturalist, author of Wild Flowers (1954 with S.M. Walkters) and editor of the New Naturalist series 1943-79.

Cambridge graduate and later Fellow of Clare College, made his reputation in scientific horticulture and systematics. Assistant Director at Kew 1931-46, at Wisley 1946-51 and Director of University Botanic Gardens, Cambridge 1951-73. Though involved internationally in the naming of plants, remembered as a pioneer conservationist and association with a group of talented Cambridge botanists in 1950s; he was 'socially cohesive: affable, humanist, courteous; late in life prone to melancholy.