Review: Alan Titchmarsh - Earth Man, King’s Hall, Ilkley

GARDENING guru, chat show host, best selling novelist, writer, broadcaster, teacher, raconteur, actor, singer, dancer, poet. The list grows.

The stage was comfortably furnished with a leather armchair, a small table, luxuriant potted palms and ferns. Alan Titchmarsh is currently the most famous gardener on the planet. The still youthful 74-year-old held aloft some blue denim jeans. A gesture of defiance perhaps aimed at the North Korean dictator. Kim Jong Un recently decreed that images of the gardening celebrity in “western imperialist” jeans must be blurred below the waist.

Born at St Winifred’s on the edge of “Ilkla Moor” Alan was educated at Ilkley Junior School and Ben Rhydding Secondary Modern School. His love of singing can be traced back to All Saints Parish Church Choir and Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society. Alan first trod the boards on this very stage, as a dancer and chorus member in the Society’s 1967 production of Oklahoma. His reminiscences inevitably included amusing encounters with our late Queen Elizabeth at horticultural events: “Mr Titchmarsh, your onions are small” observed Her Majesty before adding, to Alan’s relief: “I myself prefer them that way - so much more flavour.”

Alan accepted an invitation to address the 25 members of Sandringham Women’s Institute. On arrival he was surprised to see the Queen was there. The WI chairman told him not to worry: “It’s nothing, we see her all the time.” At the end, Her Majesty thanked him, saying: “This evening Mr Titchmarsh, you have given pleasure to many women.”

The north-south divide surfaced from time to time: Alan was introduced to the All England Lawn Tennis Club as a guest speaker from Yorkshire: “People coming south are like haemorrhoids. If they go back up, no problem. But if they stay down, that means trouble ahead.”

A lively audience question session was tackled with dry humour: Alan had helpful advice for a lady planning to create a Japanese garden on her sun drenched balcony. “This might be easier in the Sahara Desert. Had you thought of moving there?”

Who is his favourite gardener of all time? Answer: Percy Thrower.

Alan ended in reflective mood by reciting his wistful poem, Why Does the Willow Weep? He then exhorted the delighted capacity audience “to do their bit for Ilkley’s beautiful King’s Hall and Winter Garden.”

The event was promoted by the Friends of King’s Hall & Winter Garden to raise funds for the venue. Said Richard Bradley, Chairman of the Friends: “We are deeply grateful to Alan Titchmarsh for donating his fee towards our fundraising campaign.”

“Thanks to Alan’s generosity, I am confident that we will reach our target of £7,000 for this promotion. We are indebted to Moss and Moor for the loan of such beautiful plants to adorn our stage.”