How One Scholarship Can Change a Career: Colgrave Seabrook Foundation

Sure.

Well, in my day job, I'm a plant breeder.

My family, we have a plant breeding company.

We develop new varieties of flowers and then we license them around the world and collect royalties on what we produce and sell.

I retired last year after 37 years working with the Bull organization as a trials manager and then marketing manager.

And it's 37 fantastic years watching the business change and develop and new people coming in and out of the business.

So I've recently joined as a trustee on the Colgrave Seabrook Foundation.

I'm personally a big believer in what you guys are doing and supporting the next generation is super important.

But for our audience, could you give us an overview of the charity and your history and what you're about?

Okay, the Colgrave Seabrook Foundation is a registered charity.

It's there to help the development of young people in the early stages of their careers who are in established horticultural establishments and to provide bursaries, support them in their development.

And how did you both get involved?

My involvement with the foundation started when I was granted, I was the first recipient of the Ed Markham Colgrave scholarship, and that contributed to my travels to the USA.

I had one year in the USA learning about the horticultural industry over there.

Then when I came back and got into the business, just settled into the industry, I suppose, I got a bit settled in, a bit involved in other aspects of the industry.

And then a few years later, the chairman at the time gave me a call and sort of guilt tripped me and said, you know, we've given you some money.

It's about time you gave something back.

So I was invited onto the board.

I lose track.

It must be 10, 15 years ago, something like that.

I

think you've paid for the, paid for the nursery by now.

Then

what about yourself?

My link was that I was working with the Colgrave Seeds Limited business as it was at the time.