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Tony Bradshaw

The recent death of Professor Anthony Bradshaw FRS; known universally as Tony, brings to an end the life of a great scientist renowned for his work in several branches of plant science described variously as evolutionary biology to restoration ecology. His many friends will of course be saddened by the loss to biology of a fine brain but far more poignant at the passing of a wonderful personality whose exuberance for life was only equalled by his enthusiasm for his discipline, it is clear from the dual title he worked under covered a huge swathe of the plant sciences. In fact it went much beyond this to embrace the application of those sciences to benefit society through healing the scars of industrial spoliation and improving urban living by establishing amenity plantings on very difficult sites.

Tony not only believed in improving people’s lives for the better through the environment in which they lived but that such change could be made to happen if only the correct land treatment “recipes” were followed before plantings took place. Tony, as he never tired of telling his friends and colleagues did not believe in the need for topsoil!

Tony involved himself in many charities ranging from the National Wildflower Centre, Groundwork Trusts and the National Urban Forestry Unit, in these and other similar organisations he devoted time to their development and administration. His enthusiasm knew no bounds, whether he was persuading a group how to plant trees on an urban roadside or standing on a mining spoil heap, lecturing in a university hall, or attempting to complete all the quiz questions at a birthday party. In every location one would hear Tony using his favourite expression; “That’s very interesting”. It was the creed by which he lived and inspired others.

Tony Bradshaw will be sadly missed.