I was visiting the Ballards until the late 70s and very early 80s but didn't see them after that as I moved further away from their house and nursery.
The snowdrops were originally Helen's and (in my mother's opinion at least) Helen was the better plantsperson and better snowdrop grower, but Phillip took over the marketing and selling of the snowdrops (my mother says Helen 'let' him take over the snowdrops).
He was also very proud of his home-made cider and perry. They had orchards, and an old horse-powered cider press in a cellar below the house - which he converted to machine power by linking it to an old motorbike with which he turned the press by riding the bike round and round! I recall a couple of visits that involved drinking copious quantities of murky farmhouse cider - and a pretty sore head the next day!