Sister pays loving tribute to horticulturist John Smith who has died aged 69

The sister of a Sudbury horticulturist, who continued to run a successful gardening business in the town for five decades, has paid a loving tribute to her brother, describing him as a “gentle and kind-natured man”.

John Smith, known to family and friends as Smuff, died after suffering from deep vein thrombosis and heart disease. He was 69.

Mr Smith developed an enduring passion for the outdoors as a young boy, while helping his father to grow a range of vegetables on a plot of land on Constitution Hill.

He and his sister, Annie Jackson, helped to sell their father’s fresh produce, which provided an additional source of income alongside his full-time job as a plumber.

“Our Saturday job was to load a wheelbarrow with vegetables and take them on to the housing estate,” said Mrs Jackson. “People would buy vegetables and flowers to lay at the cemetery on a Sunday.”

Reflecting on her fond memories as a young girl, Mrs Jackson said: “It was a very idyllic childhood John and I had.”

Mr Smith’s mother, Kitty, and father met while she was working as a nurse at Walnuttree Hospital.

The family lived in Upper East Street before moving to a bungalow on Constitutional Hill during the 1960s.

Mr Smith attended the junior school in Girling Street before studying at Sudbury Modern Secondary School in Mill Lane.

After leaving school at 16, Mr Smith qualified as a plumber and gas engineer, but, instead of using his skills to pursue a career in that field, he decided to work at his father’s nursery.

“It was partly because he wanted to be his own boss, which he could have been at any business,” explained Mrs Jackson. “But he wanted to do things in a new way.”

Passionate about music, Mr Smith often played the harmonica and electric guitar.

He enjoyed listening to delta blues, an American folk-style music which was established in Mississippi during the 20th century.

“He loved the music that came out of America,” said Mrs Jackson. “And he loved the Beatles; he collected everything.”

A keen sportsman, Mr Smith played darts and cribbage, and became a dedicated member of the football team at The Plough pub in Melford Road.

Whilst running the garden centre, known as John’s, Mr Smith expanded the site with an extensive range of plants.

“He loved his customers,” said Mrs Jackson, 67. “He enjoyed listening about how their plants were growing. He had a great love of Sudbury and it’s people.”

Reflecting on his character, Mrs Jackson said: “He was incredibly kind-natured; he was very caring and gentle, and I think that’s why he is remembered so fondly.”

Mr Smith, who never married or had children, is survived by his niece, Kate, and two nephews, Rob and Tom, who plan to continue their uncle’s legacy by taking over the business.

Family and friends of Mr Smith are being invited to pay their respects as his funeral cortège makes its way down East Street towards Constitution Hill today at 3.30pm. A memorial event will be hosted at a later date.