RHS mourns death of vice-chairman of council

13:44 22nd June 2010

Professor John MacLeod, vice-chairman of council at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), has passed away after a long battle with illness.

According to the RHS, the garden and greenhouse enthusiast was set to become a vice-president after recently agreeing to the role.

He was to be honoured at the July 1st annual general meeting, but sadly died on Friday (June 18th), less than a fortnight before the event.

A servant to the RHS council for ten years, Professor MacLeod had helped the organisation in numerous capacities.

As well as being vice-chairman of council, he also acted as a garden advisor to Hyde Hall council, chairman of the science and horticultural advice committee and a member of the business committee.

Meanwhile, the expertise of garden designers is being sought to help restore a 17th century garden at Warwickshire's Astley Castle, near Nuneaton, the RHS has revealed.