C.H. Middleton

Cecil Henry Middleton (22 February 1886 – 18 September 1945), widely known simply as "Mr. Middleton", was a gardener, writer and one of the earliest radio and television broadcasters on gardening for the BBC. Middleton broadcast in Britain during the 1930s and 40s, especially in relation to the "Dig for Victory" campaign during the Second World War. Many of his wartime talks appeared also in print.

Background

Middleton was born in Weston by Weedon, Northamptonshire on 22 February 1886. Gardening was the family trade. Middleton was the son of John Robert Middleton, who was employed as head gardener at Weston Hall by Sir George Sitwell, father of the talented trio of Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell, all of whom Cecil Middleton came to know well as a child, probably as a playmate. On his marriage certificate on 10 August 1912 in London to Rosa Annie Jenkins, Middelton was listed as a Horticultural Instructor. He left Northampton to work first in the seed trade, then spent time as a student at Kew Gardens.