—_J_hn 
luv?” mfg

A FAT!-IERFOF-TWO has dis-
covered a form of transport
that is cheaper, healthier and
oflzen quicker than the motor
car— the bicycle. A
Fed up with garage bills and
name jams, John Shirley aban-
doned the family car two years
ago and has never looked back.
Now he commums to the
London tradm_ ' g company where
he works from his home in Pett
Hill, Bridge, using the train and

’ his bicycle.‘

He said: “The bike travels
free ontheu-ainanditisawelb

3 known fact that two wheels are

 tha.n'four in London

  

 

 Sam -—- lI8PPi°1'  it

, for two

 on two Wheels

four, a.nd 18-month-old Meg are
carried on the back. A
“I don’t mind if people think
we are a bit eccentric as they
seeuspedalbyinourweather-
proof gear carrying the
‘ shopp' ,”John said.
‘Naturally’ , the thought of
cycling through the winter can
be off-putting, but providing
you wrap up well and have
powerful lights it’s no problem
"You actually warm up very.
quickly and it's very -g_ exer-
cise,” he added. ‘ ‘ .
“ “In the summer, of course,
its a real delight _— especially
outinthe couin —

 
   

     


OBITUARIES

Sir James Mount. CBE, BEM,
horticulturalist. died on July 26
aged 85. He was born on
November 8, 1908.

JIM MOUNT was one of those who
led the fightback by British apple
growers against the invasion of Britain
by the imported Golden Delicious.
One of the country’s largest and most
innovative fruit farmers. he lped to
found. in 1961, the mark. .ng co-
operative Home Grown Fruits and
became its first chairman.

Not only did this encourage British
orchards to counter-attack, with the
Cox's orange pippin and other indige-
nous varieties, but it strengthened their
negotiating position when.selling to the
powerful new retailing chains.

Mount also lived long enough to see
his ultimate ambition realised when
Home Grown Fruits merged recently
with its principal rival. East Kent
Packers, to form ENFRU. An acronym
for “English Fruit", ENFRU further
increased the r farmers‘ muscle
overnight.

James William Spencer Mount had
inherited the family business from his
father. He began work on the family
farm near Canterbury after leaving
Tonbridge School and then, together
with his brother David, took over the
management of the fruit-producing
firm of S. W. Mount on their “'her’s
death fifty years ago. I

It was a daunting task because
entrepreneurs of his father's genera-
tion tended to keep a tight rein on
financial matters. Jim Mount took over
as chairman. with 100 men under his
control, without ever having been
allowed to see the books. He developed
the firm, however, into not merely one
of the biggest enterprises of its kind.
with at one time four separate farms
and 1.200 acres. but turned it into one
of the most progressive. He also added
a dairy herd of Jersey cattle to the
orchards of pears, plums and apples
which constituted its main business.

  
   

He continued his father’s connec-
tions with the world-famous East
Malling Research Station (now known
as Horticulture Research Internation-
al) where he was appointed [0 the
governing body on his father’s death in
1944. He became honorary chairman

IR JAMES AMOUNT

in 1950 and held the position for the
next 20 years. when he was made
chairman of the development and
endowment fund.

After helping to guide the station
through a difficult period for the
industry and for research establish-

ments. he retired from this post or
four years ago -— by which time he ft
that the station’s future was secure.

Appointed CBE in 1965, he w
knighted in 1979 for his services
British horticulture and three yea
later received the Royal Horticultur
Society’s highest award, the Victor
Medal of Honour. His BEM reflectt
his war work when he led his loc.
special services division of the Hon
Guard —.- those volunteers who wou:
have gone “underground" to start
resistance movement had Hitler inva.
ed Britain. He also ran the Canterbu;
Army Cadet Force and belonged to It
Auxiliary Fire Service during tl
Canterbury blitz.

An honour which must have give
him particular satisfaction came thft
years ago when the new Jim Moui
Building-, designed for carrying or
research on apple storage (a speci;
interest of his) was formally opened -.
the East Malling research station F
John Gummer, the then Minister ~
Agriculture.

Mount’s strength lay in the breadt
of his talents. Not only was he a soun
administrator with his feet firmly o
the ground. but he was also
knowledgeable enthusiast for researr
who demonstrated his faith in hortict:
tural science by practising what I"
preached. The biological control t
pests — as opposed to the spraying <
trees with toxic chemicals —— was or.
area in which he led the way.

Mount was a big man in all senses 1
the word. Over 6ft 7in tall. he remaine
even at the height of his powers

courteous. unassuming person. 1:

private life he loved opera and the art:
as well as gardening and fishing, an
was able to indulge these interests i
later years.

His life was not without sadnes
The death of his first wife. Margaret. ;
I973 was followed by that of their onl
son seven years ago. He is survived l:
his second wife, Jane. and by thrc
daughters of his first marriage.