Gardener, Gardening writer and TV broadcaster. Father of Stephen, Nicholas and Christopher. Born Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton in Stepney, East London, a few minutes before his twin brother Tony, his family moved to Hertfordshire when he was four, and he quickly began a passion for gardening. After working at local nurseries, he attended Writtle Agricultural College in Essex and passed with distinction the National Diploma in Horticulture. By 1970 he took over a run down garden centre and transformed it into a thriving business. He also began to write articles for gardening magazines was offered a job in 'Gardening Diary' on Anglia TV. In 1975 he joined the Gardening News team and two years later became editor of Practical Gardening. At that time he moved into a rundown house on the Barnsdale Estate, the 'Original Barnsdale'. Even though he rented some land, the place wasn't big enough and by 1984, he found a Victorian farmhouse with five acres of land only a mile away. This became the 'new' Barnsdale. By then Geoff was the main presenter for BBC's 'Gardener's World' and a firm favourite with the gardening viewers for the next seventeen years. When he wasn't presenting the programme, he was writing numerous best selling gardening books. Friday night in the UK became THE night on tv for gardeners, with Geoff's down-to-earth approach and genial manner. He was loved by tens of thousands. Keen on cycling, he entered a sponsored cycle ride in the Brecon Beacons in 1996 on an extremely hot day. He collapsed and died during the ride. Buried in his local churchyard in his familiar boots and jeans, a few days before his 60th birthday, at his request a memorial tree was planted by his grave, a Cercidiphyllum japonicum. "It's a lovely honey colour and it will last for 60yrs and then die. And that's all right".