Tributes paid after death of West Kirby horticulturist and forner West Wirral Rotary President Tom Risely

Mar 17 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former President of West Wirral Rotary Club, who died last week.

Horticulturist Tom Risely, who was born in Leicester in 1934, studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and started his career working for parks departments in councils across the country.

He later worked for the Ministry of Transport and as a consultant on new parks and private gardens in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Another major role was as manager of the landscaping project in advance of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Eddie Williamson, current President of West Wirral Rotary, said: “On his return to the UK in 1994 Tom lived briefly in Heswall next door to one of West Wirral’s Rotarians, Peter Hinitt.

“With Peter’s encouragement Tom joined the West Wirral club as a new member in May 1996. He took on a number of positions on the Council at West Wirral Rotary before becoming President in 2007-8.”

Over the last eight years Mr Risely’s professional voluntary work included the judging of Green Pennant, Green Flag and Green Heritage for the Civic Trust.

Mr Williamson added: “Perhaps his greatest Rotary accolade occurred last June when he organised the planting of a tree in Birkenhead Park by the incoming President of Rotary in Britain and Ireland, David Fowler.

“At Tom’s instigation, on the same day the Rotary Club of New York celebrated their sponsorship of a tree in Central Park, a public park designed on principles established earlier in Birkenhead.

“For his horticultural enthusiasm, for his contributions to our own club and to Rotary as a whole, Tom will be greatly missed.”

Mr Risely, of West Kirby, was a passionate Leicester RUFC fan and a member of Caldy RFC. He is survived by wife Julie and children Jane, Catherine, Rachel, Sarah, Rebecca, Kate, Alice and Tom.