Award from the Springfields Horticultural Society recognises the work of Brian Taylor
The Springfields Horticultural Society has awarded the Carlo Naef Trophy to Mr Brian Taylor for his life-time involvement within the Taylor family’s horticultural and farming business based in Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
His award recognises his personal dedication to the broader daffodil bulb and flower growing industry, to which he has given much of his own free time on various committees and trade associations.
David Norton, Chief Executive of Springfields Horticultural Society said “Working alongside his brothers John & Roger, Brian helped to develop the family business, O A Taylors & Sons, which today is the main UK supplier of pre-packed bulbs.
“Brian’s primary role at Taylors was the production of the daffodil bulbs and flowers. He was one of the first people to start exporting daffodils to Holland back in the 1970s and at one time Taylors became the largest exporter of English daffodil flowers to the Dutch flower auctions. This led to the opening up of other new opportunities exporting hundreds of thousands of bunches of daffodils each spring all over Europe as well as to the USA and Canada."
Brian Taylor represented growers on many committees including the NFU Ornamentals Committee and NFU Bulbs Sub-Committee (as chairman); HDC Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers Panel and the Kirton Experimental Horticultural Station Bulbs Committee (as chairman). More locally, in the aptly named South Holland area of Lincolnshire (around Spalding) he had roles with the NFU South Holland Horticultural Association and South Holland Growers Club as well as the Spalding Flower Parade Committee and the Springfields Horticultural Exhibition (S.H.E.) Committee.
The award was presented by Mr Peter Ruysen, Chairman of Springfields Horticultural Society on behalf of the Trustees of the Society and bulb industry friends and colleagues on 13th June 2017.