Mr David W. Hinks (Wye College 1971)

Provided by Mrs Pamela Hinks

OBITUARY OF DAVID WILLIAM HINKS
1931 - 2009

David left school aged 14 in 1944 without qualifications, but proved his great love of plants and dedication to study by gaining an Honours Degree at Wye College in 1971 aged 40.

Prior to this, he spent 10 years after leaving school in private gardening, on a commercial nursery and working for Worcester County Council before completing 2 years National Service in the Royal Horse Artillery. He was one of the last intake of servicemen and then became one of the first intake of students at Pershore Institute of Horticulture. After gaining a certificate at Pershore he moved to Cambridge University Botanic Gardens and worked for two years in landscape and development receiving the Award for Best Student before joining the staff as an indoor propagator. In 1959 he moved to become Assistant Curator at Birmingham University Botany Garden with a brief to update the botanical aspects of the garden and identify and label all existing plants and new introductions. While at Birmingham he gained a credit in special methods at the University Institute of Education and his National Diploma in Horticulture before the final move, prior to taking his degree at Wye, to Askham Bryan Horticultural College where he became a lecturer in Sciences and Amenity Horticulture.

His final job,after achieving his degree,was as Divisional Estates and Pollen Manager at Beecham Pharmaceutical Research Division where he worked for 20 years before taking early retirement in 1992 to become a Consultant in Amenity Horticulture. He always considered himself very fortunate to be able to enjoy what he loved best throughout his working life.

Other interests included photography, philately, woodwork, music and reading.

He died on 24th April 2009 after a long and debilitating illness which he bore with great dignity and fortitude. He is sadly missed by his wife Pamela, daughters Fiona and Hilary, son Jeremy and granddaughters Laura and Claire as well as other family members and friends.