Vegetable plant breeder and md of Tozer Seeds Dr Peter Dawson has been awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
The award can only ever be held by 63 people, who must be British horticulturalists resident in the UK, in commemoration of the 63 years of Queen Victoria’s reign. The award is the highest accolade bestowed by the RHS and recognises outstanding work within horticulture.
Dawson joined four other new recipients of the VMH at a special event at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, held earlier this month. He was presented the award by HRH The Countess of Wessex and the new president of the RHS, Elizabeth Banks.
Dawson’s work has involved a lifetime of vegetable breeding, plus voluntary roles within the RHS, serving on numerous committees and the main council.
Dawson built up family business Tozer Seeds from a small local firm to a medium sized business with several additional divisions, including Spanish and North American sales offices, increasing presence on an international stage and a turnover of £10 million plus.
Dawson was solely responsible for breeding the world’s first hybrid parsnip, Javelin and also the first hybrid celery, Victoria in the UK.
The new Flower Sprout launched in M&S stores nationwide in February this year was the brainchild of Dawson.
Tozer Seeds Rebecca Dawson, Peter’s daughter, said: “I’m immensely proud of my father’s award, he is an inspirational horticulturalist, boss and father, I am so very pleased that his lifetimes’ work has been recognised”.
Dawson’ work with the RHS has spanned his entire career, serving on several committees including the fruit and vegetable committee, vegetable trials committee, fruit and vegetable show schedule committee and the science and horticultural advice committee.
He continues to serve on several RHS committees today and is also the president of the Cobham Garden and Horticultural Association.
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