Christopher Self

Born in Lacock in 1937, he worked on the family farm before taking on the fledgling shop with his mother Phyllis, who worked as corporate director until the age of 103.

He attended Lacock Primary School and then King’s School, Bruton, in Somerset, before joining the family business.

He completed his two-year National Service in Germany, before returning to Lacock, taking on the garden centre in 1974.

He was married twice, and had three children, Peter, Sara and Mark, two step-children, six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

His eldest son, Peter, who is the current managing director of the family firm, said: “He was managing director with my grandmother, and between the two of them they ran it. It started from a small shed and a couple of greenhouses as a horticulture-based business, and grew to what we see now.

“He was always very supportive to us all, and very helpful to me in business.”

A keen horticulturalist, he took great pride in his own garden, and enjoyed visiting gardens around the county.

An experienced traveller, he enjoyed many cruises, visiting New Zealand and the Caribbean. He also travelled to Norway to witness the midnight sun in the Arctic Circle, claiming to always enjoy different holidays.

He maintained a love of Lacock his whole life, serving as president of the village allotment society, and was heavily involved in the Lacock History and Camera Club.

He died a month after he suffered a heart attack, and had undergone bypass surgery in Bristol.

His family hopes to establish a memorial trust in his name, which will benefit organisations and clubs in the parish.

His funeral takes place today (Thursday) at 11am at St Cyriac’s Church, Lacock, where collections will be taken in support of the trust.