James Pickering (1929-2022) RIP

[Tony R]

It was only when i saw under the "Forum birthday notices" that James Pickering "was 94 today", I wondered if he was still with us. He was last active on the Forum on 17th September 2021.

In fact he passed away on 30th March 2022, but his last contribution was in response to a question on Melocactus in January 2019
https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... 99#p274299

He used to have an interesting website on cacti of Eastern Brazil, link on this page
https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=166721
which you could probably find on the "Wayback Web Archive" if you so wished.

His obituary is here:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituari ... lon-chapel

RIP James.

Tony R

[RayW]

Thanks for that Tony.
As a fellow Northern lad I used to have a joke about Burnley with James and told him I would try to get to Tucson next time I am seeing my son in America, but as with many things I never did.
James had mobility issues latter in life and used to grow his great collection of cacti outside under shade cloth raised off the ground so he could tend to them from his wheelchair.
As you say it is a couple years since he posted but he used to reply to quite a few posts on the forum.
During covid etc it is sad his passing was missed, but his humour and enthusiasm will be remembered.
RIP James

[Aiko]

He was more active on Cactiguide.

There was a notice on this on the Cactiguide forum: www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=392396

[RayW]

Thanks for that Aiko.