It is with sadness that we hear of the death of the President and founder member of the South East England Daffodil Society Geoff Ridley. Geoff was 82 and had been battling cancer for a number of years. However his love of daffodils prevailed and his bulbs were planted in the Autumn in order for him to enter this years SEEDS 12 bloom Championship classes.
Many will also remember him as a keen competitor at the RHS daffodil competitions and shows.
Funeral arrangements: Friday 17 February 2023 at Kent and Sussex crematorium, Benhall Mill Road, Tunbridge Wells. Kent. TN2 5JJ. If you wish to attend the wake please let Paul Ridley know. email address: 
or telephone Robin 01799 540053
I am very sad to learn of the death of Geoff Ridley after a long battle with cancer. Geoff was a dedicated daffodil exhibitor for well over 50 years. He was just as happy competing at a village show as doing so nationally at Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and South East of England Daffodil Society (SEEDS) events. In the 1980’s Noel Burr, Geoff Ridley and others were aware that a lot of daffodil exhibitors in Kent and it’s neighboring counties competed only at local shows. A major consideration being the need to take a day or more off work to compete at an RHS event in London. To remedy the situation what is now called SEEDS was created and held its first show at the Angel Centre, Tunbridge on 28 April 1985. The outcome exceeded all expectations, with 54 exhibitors registering 617entries with the Show Secretary and over 400 people paying to see the show. The sheer size of the task ahead of them was a shock to the judges. Cyril Coleman’s widow judged the division 6 single blooms class and Jim Pearce and myself everything else. Accompanied by Noel Burr and Geoff Ridley we staggered to lunch at a nearby pub at about 4pm! Keeping a voluntary society going after the initial flush of enthusiasm is never easy and Geoff remained ever present as a Committee member and in due course President of SEEDS from the planning stage in 1985 until his death. A remarkable contribution to our hobby. He also consistently supported the show as an exhibitor, always planting and looking after the daffodils needed to compete in the 12 bloom Championship Class. Geoff was a respected judge of show daffodils at all levels. However, he was also a keen gardener and was for many years a very sound judge of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips at the plant trials held at the RHS Garden Wisley. Geoff was a modest man who enjoyed exhibiting his daffodils irrespective of whether they won their class and will be much missed by his many friends.
Malcolm Bradbury.