BBC Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has shared an emotional tribute to David J. C. Austin, the chairman of David Austin Roses, who has died at his Shropshire home aged 67 after a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and terminal neurological disorder.
Don said: "I am so sorry to hear this. My regards and condolences to all his family. But what legacy he leaves - millions of exquisite roses that will live on for so many, enriching all our lives."
A life dedicated to roses
Born in 1958, David Austin joined the Albrighton-based family business in 1990, founded by his father David C. H. Austin. He led the company for the past three decades. The rose cultivator and Gardeners' World had a long history of partnership, with specialists from the Shropshire nursery frequently appearing on the programme, in publications and at BBC Gardeners' World Live events.
David's three children, Richard, James and Olivia, honoured their father in a moving statement: "First and foremost, dad was a gardener. He carried our grandfather's vision with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility, always putting the roses, the family business and its people before himself."
Family tribute
They described him as "kind" and "modest", possessing a "playful spirit". The tribute continued: "He faced his illness with the same courage and dignity that he brought to life. Above all, he was our dad, and words cannot express how much we will miss him. We couldn't be more proud of him."
