Born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1937, Roy's earliest recollection of garden plants were the dahlias, chrysanthemums and roses grown by his father in his childhood garden. He began his gardening with Bolton Parks Dept aged 15. Then a two-year stint as a national serviceman with HM Forces in Malaya enriched his experience of tropical plants and this along with a 3-month plant collecting expedition to Nepal in 1971 strengthened his love for the world's high places and their plants. Since then he has continued to travel at every opportunity around the world without however, neglecting his love for British gardens and native flora.