Robert (Robin) Compton VMH

Robert (Robin) Compton VMH

25 November 2009

Robert Edward John (Robin) Compton VMH, President of Plant Heritage and owner of Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, died on 14 November 2009 at the age of 87.

In 1949 Robin joined the botanical garden committee of the Northern Horticultural Society (NHS) which opened its new garden, Harlow Carr, in 1950. He later took on the Presidency of the NHS and the Harrogate Flower Show.

In 1988 he became Chairman of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants & Gardens (now known as Plant Heritage) and took on the Presidency in 1994 where he nurtured the growth of this organisation devoted to national plant collections. His leadership, energy and vision raised its profile and brought new resources to what at the time was a floundering organisation short of money. He also secured the patronage and support of the Prince of Wales.

He was also admired for all he did to make his garden at Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, which includes a National Collection of Cornus, into a northern horticultural Mecca for unusual and exciting plants, many rarely seen north of Watford, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Historic Houses Association and Christie’s voted it the Garden of the Year in 1986.

Robin was educated at Eton and Magdalen College Oxford, and during the war he served in the Coldstream Guards. After the war he studied fruit growing and horticulture, mainly in preparation for taking over the family estate, but decided against gardening as a career and went into advertising, eventually joining Time-Life International. He was Chairman of this American publishing conglomerate from 1979-90.
The estate was formally made over to Robin in 1969 when he and his family moved to an estate house. Robin and his wife took over Newby Hall when his father, Major Edward Compton, died in 1977, inheriting a large and magnificent garden which his father had been creating since the early 1920s. Unfortunately it was in a sad state of neglect, so Robin set about the task of renovation and further development, but working within his father’s framework.

The garden has been described as ‘the garden with everything: firm design, and endless variety of features, great plantsmanship, immaculate maintenance and a superb example of 20th century gardening’. Robin also restored the famous Robert Adam house to its original beauty.

He was devoted not only to plants but also to the intrepid collectors who found and introduced them, such as Ernest Wilson.

Robin Compton became an RHS Vice-President in 1996 and he also served for a spell as President of both the Northern and the North of England Horticultural Societies, and was on the gardens panel of the National Trust.

The RHS awarded him the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1993 in recognition of his horticultural skills at Newby Hall and for his decisive leadership which he gave to the NCCPG, and the Harlow Carr medal in 1996.

A memorial service will take place 2.30pm on 3 February 2010 at Ripon Cathedral.