On Sat, 27 May 2006 17:04:39 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote
(in article ):

The message
from Paul Corfield contains these words:


b) that 9 year old lad with the allotment. Clearly very good with
his plants and full of enthusiasm. I think we've just seen the future
Alan Titchmarsh.

I thought that as a TV presenter, Aaron could wipe the floor with AT
right now;it was like watching Geoff Hamilton reincarnated ;-) One of
the very heartening thigs about this year's show, (or the Beeb's
coverage of it) is the involvement of children..wonderful school group
who have become orchid specialists!

Yes, I liked that - it's bringing in the younger generation and developing
their interest but without patronising them or making them feel absolute
wallies for not spending their lives on some infernal machine! Garden
writers are saying/have been saying "where are the gardeners of the future"?
If this kind of coverage is given to the young, others will be encouraged
into the profession and how good that will be for them and for the country as
a whole.
I understand your feelings about AT but I think he's a good presenter. He
*does* know his stuff and he has - as I've said before - that inestimable
gift for a tv presenter of making you feel he is talking just to YOU. I
think those watching him feel that he could be at the other side of the
kitchen table, having a mug of tea and chatting. There's no 'talking down',
which too many people find irritating in gardening talking heads and I think
Carol Klein has the same gift. IMO, she's underused in garden broadcasting.


c) the lady who was 100 years of age who was involved in flower
arrangement and been to Chelsea 60 years (?) running. She looked
absolutely astounding for 100 years old and was clearly in full command
of her faculties as she was lucid and fun to listen to.

O to get old like that. I was watching with two women friends and we
were all agog.

Janet.


I think it must have been her hair but she reminded me of Dame Alicia
Markova. That wonderful poise and self-confidence comes from a lifetime of
working hard and knowing what you're doing and then passing it on to others,
I suspect. And such a nice, giggly, twinkle in the eye - lovely lady!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
email address on web site