Announcement of the death of Tony Johnston, Scunthorpe

[Hedge]

It is my sad duty to copy to the BCSS membership and other cactophiles the announcement of the death of Tony Johnston of Scunthorpe. He was the founding Secretary of Scunthorpe branch, and will be greatly missed.

"JOHNSTON Anthony (Tony) Sadly after a short illness at Lindsey Lodge Hospice on 24th September 2011, Tony aged 75 years. Loving husband of Anne, special dad of Kaz, Steve, Nicky and Drew, father-in-law to Baz, Sue, John and Louise, loving grandad and great-grandad and friend to many. A service will be held at St Hugh's Church on Wednesday 5th October at 2.00pm. followed by committal at Woodlands Crematorium. Tony will be peacefully resting at Kettle Funeral Directors, 15 Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe. Family flowers only, but donations in lieu to Lindsey Lodge Hospice."

this notice appeared in the Scunthorpe Telegraph on 29th September.

[RichardM]

I am so very sad to hear of this, i have several plants from Tony and visited his collection a number of times some years ago, always very kind and generous he will be greatly missed indeed.

[Graham Walker]

Very sad news about Tony.
I remember him from my early days in the Society, 1980's, when Tony used to come and speak at Teesside Branch. I visited him and his collection several times.
We shared the same employer, British Steel, at that time so we had mutual connections
My thoughts are with the Family at this sad time

Graham

[DaveW]

Sorry to hear about Tony, he was one of the best. A long time since I saw him, but I had plants from him in the past.

DaveW

[Hedge]

Thank you for your comments, i shall pass your condolences on to the family.

[jearal]

Some of my favourites from his collection

Anthony Johnston3.jpg (22.2 KiB) Viewed 5124 times

[John B]

Today,John Arnold (former Chairman of BCSS),and John Betteley (Zone 4 Rep) have,at the request of the family,visited the collection with a view to organising its disposal prior to the onset of winter.
The collection does not warrant an auction;most plants are not in show-worthy condition,but their is ample material for sale.Most of the collection is of undocumented material.
On Saturday we are returning to price up plants,after which a further sales announcement will be made.
At this early stage we are planning to sell the entire Copiapoa collection,consisting of c100 plants from 3.5" to 12"pots for a sum of £300..The few uebelmannias,most of which are grafted will be sold to a northern buyer if he accepts the price;otherwise they will be priced up and sold on the day of the sale.
There is a mixed Pelargonium collection which we would like to sell in total...approx 40 plants for £90.
There are about 40 Espostoas and Oreocereus in varying conditions,which will be individually priced up for sale on the day.
Finally all the Opuntias and the few remaining Austrocacti have been pre-sold to a specialist in these two Genera.................This announcemnt is posted by John Betteley
Please watch this space for final sales details...For futher information you may contact John Betteley on email<johnbetteley@another.com>,or telephone 01636 707649....

[bcss]

Members might like to know that Tony Johnston's Copiapoa collection has moved to Sussex and will be kept together. There are many fine and rare old plants some dating back to the 1960s with acquisition data. All have been repotted and treated for mealy bug which was starting to break out. If anyone wants to see them next year, visitors are always welcome at our collection. We did not know Tony very well but it is nice to have plants to remember him by.

Suzanne and Tony Mace

[RK]

Well done on rescuing the Copiapoas, it sounds like a great collection of plants - i would love to arrange a visit next year to see them and the rest of your collection!

I hope those lovely old Uebelmannia found good homes too, the big one is very similar to a plant that Terry Hewitt used to have, but i'm not sure what happened to it after he passed away.