Sad news - John Pilbeam

[Stuart]

Very sad news. I’d known John since the mid 1970s and we usually stayed at the same nursery in Holland after ELK each year. His books were easy to read and aimed at the hobbyist, not the ‘book collectors’. Maybe the other two authors of the Adromischus book might consider an expanded edition? John always said what he thought and would have made a good branch chairman. I’ll always remember in one of his earlier books when he described the flowers of Tephrocactus Molinensis as being “The colour of elderly ladies underwear”. He was very generous both with plants and books, any small amount of help with a book would mean an unexpected free copy. It’s like he’s always been around and I’ll miss him . His books are a great legacy.
Stuart

[PhilipPV]

A variation of that crack about the disappointing flower colour of Tephrocactus molinensis was in an article John Pilbeam wrote in the first edition of the BCSS Journal I ever received, back in 1987 - "reminiscent of old-fashioned ladies' underwear" in that instance IIRC - and the imagery, comical and yet so precise, stuck with me immediately and ever since (although I might have struggled to remember exactly which species of opuntioid was referred to). Subsequently Cacti for the Connoisseur was (and remains) one of my favourite succulent books, and for some years was the first place I turned when needing information about a cactus. I never met him, but he was such an enjoyable and informative writer that it does still feel a tangible loss.

[habanerocat]

Saw this on Facebook earlier.

DISPOSAL OF PLANTS FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOHN PILBEAM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cactus. ... 409086334/

[Cactus Kid]

Saw this on Facebook earlier.

DISPOSAL OF PLANTS FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOHN PILBEAM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cactus. ... 409086334/

I can't access this? any idea where it was first posted please?

[habanerocat]

That's strange. This is basically it.

[Aiko]

Or see this message on this forum: https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... am#p337426

[Mike P]

Yes I added it to the Forum first and then to Facebook. Have to get the priorities right.