Beechgrove Backyard presenter Jim McColl has died on the age of 88, it has been introduced.
He hosted the BBC Scotland’s gardening programme because it started in 1978, retiring after 41 years on display in 2019.
Vastly widespread with fellow gardeners throughout Scotland, he described the pastime as “a part of the material of our lives”.
Colleagues on the programme have paid tribute to him, describing him as “an area hero first and a Scottish nationwide treasure subsequent.”
The Beechgrove Backyard started after a BBC Scotland producer took inspiration from an analogous programme in Boston, USA.
The unique backyard, which was deliberate, tended and managed all year long, was primarily based on the company’s Aberdeen headquarters on Beechgrove Terrace.
The programme provided a stark distinction to different TV gardening reveals, because of the challenges of the northern rising season
Collectively along with his co-presenter George Barron, McColl led the transformation of the location from scratch in 1978.
McColl was initially from Kilmarnock the place his father was a gardening supervisor liable for all of the parks in Kilmarnock.
He informed a BBC documentary marking his eightieth birthday in 2015 that gardening was “a part of the material of our lives”.
“You’re a lot influenced by your atmosphere and that was a part of mine,” he mentioned.
He had a profession in tutorial horticulture, educating at various universities and faculties earlier than working for the ministry of agriculture, the place he was primarily based in Leicester advising advising business growers.
However an urge to teach his two youngsters in Scotland led to him shifting along with his spouse Billie to Aberdeen the place he taught at what was then referred to as North Faculty.
He additionally labored on organising a waste power mission at Glen Garioch distillery in Aberdeenshire earlier than making the transfer into tv.
The programme was an infinite success with audiences, resulting in reside reveals and a radio spin-off.
The backyard was moved to the outskirts of Aberdeen within the Nineties, permitting the staff to start the duty of making it once more.
George Barron left the programme in 1984 however McColl continued in his position with various different presenters together with Invoice Torrance, Chris Beardshaw and Carole Baxter.
The programme is produced for BBC Scotland by the unbiased manufacturing firm Tern TV.
The McColl household mentioned: “It’s with a heavy coronary heart we share the passing of Jim McColl, husband, dad and grandad who handed peacefully yesterday.
“He can be massively missed not solely by us however by his buddies, colleagues and a nation who he shared his ardour for gardening with over 4 many years at The Beechgrove Backyard.”
BBC Scotland’s appearing director Geraldine McCartney paid tribute to McColl.
“His skilled gardening recommendation and knowledge on The Beechgrove Backyard was invaluable to green-fingered viewers over the many years and he can be drastically missed by all,” she mentioned.
“Beloved by viewers throughout the nation, he’ll be particularly missed within the North East, the place he was a much-cherished a part of the BBC Scotland and Tern TV groups for a few years. Our ideas are with Jim’s household, buddies and colleagues.”
Harry Bell, managing director of Tern TV: “Right here’s to ‘our’ beautiful Jim, who for 4 many years offered The Beechgrove Backyard for us with a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye and a form phrase for all folks.
“You’ll be honest missed, Jim. You have been an area hero first and a Scottish nationwide treasure subsequent. Thanks on your immense contribution to gardening, broadcasting and steering so many people on life’s muddy paths.”
After leaving The Beechgrove Backyard, McColl continued to jot down a gardening column for Aberdeen’s P&J newspaper.
He introduced his retirement from that in September 2022 after greater than 20 years within the paper. He informed his readers:
“Retirement from the weekly problem comes at a time when previous age is starting to be a little bit harder to deal with, I even should have assist with some jobs within the backyard these days.
“Like everybody else, I simply should resist the truth that I’m getting previous.”
He signed off with a ultimate prediction:
“Our greatest problem within the coming years can be local weather change with Mom Nature taking part in all types of methods.
“I want you all the most effective.”