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Orchard and horticulturalist legend, Willie Duncan, MBE of Fife died at the end of August . Many will have enjoyed Willie's no-nonsense talks and advice on the Beechgrove Potting Shed radio programme in the past. He had an immense knowledge about a huge range of plants from fruit trees to ferns and was a terrific communicator of that experience.
One of nature's true gentleman, Willie and his best beloved, Barbara Whitelaw, of Drumeldrie, Upper Largo, created mixed borders and an orchard with more than 100 varieties of apples, many of them rare. Willie used traditional grafting methods to grow new trees. He used the same technique to grow pears and remained confident that rarer native varieties would remain in cultivation due to more conscious cultivation.
Willie, a retired professional gardener, was not only well-known in Fife where he worked, but also much further afield, particularly from his appearances on TV for the Beechgrove Garden, his very popular service as a panellist on the Beechgrove Potting Shed BBC radio programme and his many talks and events, for instance for The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and the SRGC ( he was a long-term member), on diverse subjects.
There was very little that Willie did not know about as a gardener/grower – he was also a great expert on poultry, such as his favourite Scots Dumpy hens.
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22nd May
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June 13 - showing how the flower colour changes over time......
Meconopsis 'Willie Duncan' is named for one of Scotland's most knowledgeable and friendly horticulturists.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Simpson Institute, 47 Main St, Upper Largo, Leven, on 7th September at 1pm.
We send Barbara our fondest condolences and best wishes at this sad time.
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Willie Duncan - a gentleman, true star of horticulture who will be sorely missed
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Ann Christie with Willie Duncan April 24th 2021
