All at Genesis Plant Marketing Ltd were saddened by the news of the death of Fred Yates on Friday Sept 9th following a lengthy battle motor neurons disease.
The company had worked with Fred for over 25 years after a chance introduction to company founder Peter Dealtrey by a third party in the Rose trade.
Fred came into plant breeding after years as a high-quality grower with his father at AT Yates & Son working on many different finished crops. They moved on to growing seed raised Begonia in some volume, seeing these crops and their faults drove Fred on to think he could do better and he headed down the path of breeding with many successes along the way in Begonia, Antirrhinum, Penstemon, Aubretia, Geum and many more. In more recent times significant programs in Nemesia have come to market with Erysimum, Dahlia and others perennial lines in development on the verge of release. These will continue to be developed by Greg Freer supported by Paul Jackson and Genesis.
Fred worked mainly behind the scenes and out of the limelight but in March 2022 was awarded the Reginald Cory Memorial Cup by the RHS for his many plant breeding achievements, a well-deserved and fitting tribute to his work. Fred never stopped thinking ahead and was always full of enthusiasm, ideas even suggesting new projects in recent weeks.
MD of Genesis Nigel Judd said, I have had the privilege of working closely with Fred for the last 6 years a fascinating inspirational man, full of ideas and enthusiasm with so much more to give the industry and gardening public. He will be sadly missed by all who worked with him. His work will live on as a lasting memorial to him.
