Frederick Streeter MBE (25 June 1879 – 1 November 1975) was a British horticulturalist and broadcaster.

Streeter was born in Pulborough, Sussex, England, on 25 June 1879, to farm worker James Streeter and Dinah (née Sayers). The family moved to Dorking in Surrey, where he was educated at North Holmwood; and later to Reigate, after which he attended Reigate Grammar School. He left school at twelve years of age. He often had to move around for his gardening work in order to gain experience and promotion. He worked for Veitchs the famous nurserymen in Kings Road, Chelsea, then moved to Straffan, a large estate in Ireland, and from there, in 1901, to Basing Park near Alton as foreman, where he met his wife Hilda, née Burden (2 February 1880 – 26 February 1966). He secured his first job as a head gardener in his twenties.

Fred Streeter

Streeter was awarded the MBE, in the 1973 Birthday Honours.

Fred Streeter

Presenting

He presented the BBC radio programme Home Grown, with Roy Hay, that occupied the two o'clock slot on Sunday afternoon that was later occupied by Gardener's Question Time. He also worked on television.

Fred Streeter

In 1945, he was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour, its highest award. He appeared as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 15 July 1957.

He died on 1 November 1975 at Petworth House Gardens in Petworth, Sussex, his home. His final broadcast, which was prerecorded, was transmitted on the same day.

References

1879 births

Place of birth missing

1975 deaths

British horticulturists

BBC radio presenters

People from Petworth

People from Pulborough

People educated at Reigate Grammar School

Veitch Nurseries