This month, Pinnernews spoke with Paul Fisher, the former gardener and foreman of Pinner Memorial Park.
Paul started work in the gardens in 1974 and became a fully-fledged foreman in November 1977. He remained as head gardener until 1984, before becoming self-employed.
He said: “I planted many of the trees still in Pinner Memorial Park today! It was my brainchild to plant the weeping willows in 1980 and the Californian redwoods in 1983, which look great now. In the spring, it would look magnificent!”
When asked where his green-fingered nature stemmed from, Paul credits his grandmother, a “great gardener”. His love for the outdoors led him to study horticultural studies at Camrose School in Edgware and he started his career in gardening in 1969 after leaving school at age 16.
He continued: “Looking at the park now, I feel the standard was kept much higher when I was there. The park had its own group of staff who cared for it, whereas cutbacks now mean maintenance is done by council gangs that rush in and out.
“I used to like planting, seeing things grow. We took great pride in the park, and we enjoyed working there to keep it up to a good standard. I was in charge of the bowling green maintenance, but all of my staff took great pride in their work; it made the job enjoyable.
“People still love Pinner Memorial Park; it’s a lovely park.”
Paul, who turns 72 next month, still enjoys gardening, and says he is “one of those people who wants to get up instead of sit around”. He continues to carry out maintenance at Mistletoe Farm, a job he has been doing for the last 40 years.
He said: “Whilst I have my health, I want to keep active!”
Photo: Paul Fisher
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