Paul Garden Hendry, farewell to a free spirit, May 1947 to November 2018

Please contribute to a bench to be sited in the New River Walk in memory of Paul.

The approximate cost of a bench with an inscription is £985

Here's a little bit about Paul's life:

With a mischievous smile and always ready to set aside his secateurs for a lively political chat or a racing tip, Paul Hendry, tended the gardens of Canonbury for 40 years, becoming a friend to many of his clients.

Paul Garden Hendry was born in Barnet in 1947. His father, a surgeon and a strict disciplinarian, insisted on Paul writing with his right hand. The end result was his perfect copper-plate hand-writing that many of you will remember.

Paul passed common entrance and went to Highgate School. When he failed most of his O levels, his father gave him two options; a one-way ticket to Australia, or work on a Kibbutz in Israel. Paul chose the latter.

While studying for A levels, Paul took part in a trip to India to raise funds for War on Want. Disaster struck in Turkey, when the truck Paul was driving with eight volunteers asleep in the back, plunged off a cliff. Miraculously, all survived. Paul went on to spend time in Iran and Afghanistan.

On his return he worked in accountancy before fleeing to Scotland to work as a ghillie. He loved living in a bothy, reading by candle light and cooking on a fire.

Back in London, he trained to be a gardener and moved to Canonbury in 1978 with his wife Margaret. Paul, who looked far younger than his 71 years, thrived on conversation and his engaging personality will be sorely missed in Canonbury.