Garden and greenhouse expert to step down from role

17:12:20 3rd December 2009

Garden and greenhouse fans who are members of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) may be interested to know that the organisation's president, Giles Coode-Adams, has announced his decision to retire next year.

A replacement will be elected at the Annual General Meeting on July 1st 2010, with the body asking Elizabeth Banks to put herself forward for the role.

Mr Coode-Adams was managing director of investment bank Lehman Brothers until his retirement from the financial sector a decade ago.

Since then he has been on the RHS council for seven years, spending two of those as treasurer before taking up the presidency 12 months ago.

The Gardens Advisory Committee chairman stepped up to the plate after former president Peter Buckley passed away in 2008 and was officially elected as president earlier this year.

He explained it had been a "pleasure" to work for the RHS, but revealed that turning 70 made him feel like spending more time in his own garden and greenhouse with his wife.

"I had not expected to become president of this remarkable charity and it has been a very rewarding role, working with wonderful people who do an amazing job to help millions of people benefit from the very best in horticulture," Mr Coode-Adams said.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently revealed that it has secured a new three-year sponsorship deal for its Chelsea Flower Show event.