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Author Topic: The passing of an SRGC legend- T. Glassford Sprunt  (Read 2040 times)

Maggi Young

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The passing of an SRGC legend- T. Glassford Sprunt
« on: October 21, 2020, 09:24:02 PM »
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It is with the deepest  sadness  that I inform you of the  death of  former  SRGC President, T. Glassford  Sprunt. Glassford  passed away peacefully on 21st  October surrounded  by  his  family.

After  a successful medical career as  a  Consultant  Orthopaedic Surgeon, it  might  have  been expected that Glassford  would  be  happy  to enjoy  a quiet  retirement - but  that was  not  his  style!
An enthusiastic and  hardworking  Club member, right  from  his  early  days  with  SRGC in the  1970s, Glassford  worked in a  myriad  of  ways  with  the Club to which he  was  so involved.  It  was  a  mystery  to many  of  us  how  he  managed to  find the  time  to build, at  his  home  in Bridge  of  Allan, a  bespoke  alpine  house, which held  many  of his  fine  Show plants, as  well  as  housing  a huge  range  of  Cyclamen from which he developed tremendous leaf variations. His love  of  bulbs  lead  to  his  involvement  in the  setting  up of the Bulb Day  events of  SRGC.

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Bulb Day at the  Victoria Hall, Dunblane

Always working  for  his  local Stirlingshire  Group, he was  also the  keeper  for  many  years of  the  Club’s  back issues  of the  Rock Garden, the  Club ‘s bookseller and  the  supplier  of  plant  labels. He  served  as the  Club’s  President  in the early  1990s (over the  period  of the  1991 International Alpines  Conference)   and turned  his  carpentry  skills  to construction of  display  stands  for  SRGC for  Scotland’s Garden Show in the 2000s.  In quiet  moments( I use this  term loosely) compiled the  full index  for the  Rock Garden over  many, many  years, adding  to that his  indexing  of the  International Rock Gardener for the  first  ten years of  its  existence, served  as  a determined and  accurate  proof-reader, he  wrote  articles  for the  journal and  website,   he  prepared  name  badges  for Discussion Weekends, checked the  Seed  Exchange  listings   and  much, much more. On top of this, he  very  seldom missed  any  SRGC event, contributing  many  photos  to the  Club’s  Show  reports. He  was a  keen exhibitor for  some  years, with  no small success. He won four Forrest  Medals with beautifully  grown and  presented  plants from Dionysia to Daphne.  The  SRGC recognised  his  contribution with the  award  of the  Golden Jubilee Salver in 2001. He also served for  many  years on the  RHS Joint  Rock Garden Plant  Committee.
 
 It is  not  too much of  an exaggeration to declare that without  Glassford’s contributions a  great deal of the  work of the  SRGC would  have  been found  wanting.

It  was  a  measure  of  Glassford’s  dedication to the  Club that even  in  recent  years, when in his  nineties, his  health was  not  good and  he  was  unable to attend  the  events  as  had been his  wont, he  still worked to contribute  in  other  ways  to the  work of the  Club with things he  could  work on at home.  He  believed  strongly  that the  Club had  a  vital part  to  play  in the  horticultural life  not  only  of  Scotland, but  also internationally, and  was  passionate  about the  provision of  information freely  to the  benefit  of  all.
   
In  2013 , at the SRGC Early Bulb Day held in Dunblane on 16th February 2013 ,  the President of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society was in attendance to present a Certificate of Merit from the RCHS (or "the Caley" as it is affectionately known) to SRGC past President and  devoted supporter,  Glassford Sprunt. It was wonderful to see Glassford honoured in this way at an SRGC event - such awards are usually made at the Caley AGM but this was a very happy exception and  very  moving to  see  Glassford  given this  award  in the  presence  of  so many  SRGC  members.
The then President of the Caley, Pam Whittle,  read the citation for the award which described some of Glassford's many contributions to  the gardening community before presenting Glassford with his certificate. The certificate reads : ...."in recognition of your highly regarded and significant contribution to horticulture and gardening in Scotland "
Glassford recalled that he had first become interested in plants when, at a very tender age, he was taken with his sister to "Woolworth's" and bought some " Bees -  Seeds that grow".

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Glassford  has  been a loyal and  hardworking  supporter  of SRGC over many  decades and  his  love  of this  Club was  evident in our  last  conversations  with  him, in what was  to be  his  final illness.  While  his  loss  is  one  felt  most  keenly  by those  who knew  and  loved  him, it  is  a  comfort to know that he  has  died  peacefully, with his beloved wife Deirdre and  his  treasured  family  around  him. 

We  send  them our  fondest  condolences  and  vow  never  to forget  Glassford, a  precious  friend  and  inspiration.

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« Last Edit: October 22, 2020, 06:14:34 PM by Maggi Young »
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Editor: International Rock Gardener e-magazine

Ian Y

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Re: The passing of an SRGC legend- T. Glassford Sprunt
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2020, 11:47:48 AM »
I am deeply saddened to lose such a dear friend but he leaves behind a huge legacy for the SRGC and the wider plant world.
Glassford set an example to us all with his quiet dedication to volunteering for the many roles and tasks he efficiently carried out.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2020, 05:14:41 PM by Maggi Young »
Ian Young, Aberdeen North East Scotland   - 
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.
https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=bulb

Maggi Young

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Re: The passing of an SRGC legend- T. Glassford Sprunt
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2020, 12:41:47 PM »
Details  of  how  you  may watch Glassford's  funeral service  remotely -

Service  Thomas Glassford Sprunt

Service Date   30-Oct-20 at 11:00

Service Chapel   Chapel - Stirlingshire
Website   https://www.obitus.com/

Username   Fofu8324
Password   779830

Please send this username and password exactly as above to family and friends.
 
You can login to our website at any time to view a test connection (and we strongly recommend you do this)
but you'll only be able to view the Live Webcast approx. 5 mins before the service start time.
Please be aware this is a public building and the timing of the Live webcast is semi-automated to allow for
services running early or late – please use your discretion if you can see activities not applicable to the service
 you are here to watch.

Glassford's  family  are  pleased to share  these  details  with  us  all.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

Editor: International Rock Gardener e-magazine

 


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