PALACE GARDENER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 18 November 1937, Page 10

PALACE GARDENER

TIIIKTV YEARS’ .MEMORIES WHEN PRINCESSES DUG FOR WORMS (By Air Mail—From a Special Correspondent) LONDON, 10th October. After tending the gardens at Buckingham Palace for 30 years, Mr Fred Chalklcy. of Ealing, London, has retired at the age limit of (15. His work has brought him into contact with members of nearly every Royal house in Europe. "King Edward VII. was on the throne when I first went to the Palace to work.” Mr Chalklcy said. "There was a splendid man for you. He often came round the grounds ana talked to us. He was always gay and bright- “ When he died we gardeners were given special permits to see him lying in his bedroom. The day we went into the Palace there were nine Kings ano Queens staying there. "The Ex-Kaiser was one of them. He often talked to us in the gardens when he was staying at the Palace. "King George V. took a great interest in the borders and in the roses. "During the war he had all the flower beds converted and we grew' vegetables to send to the hospitals. "At that time King George spent much time in the summer house, where he did most of his State work. Ho loved that summer house. “King George V. never failed to pause and inquire after a cut finger or bruised leg. ‘Be careful.’ he u.scn to say. ’these things have a habit of spreading.’ "Queen Mary loved the rose garden and I always remember the moment when at a garden party in 1918 she picke-J me out of 250 Royal employees with a smile and said, ‘Here is one of my best gardeners.’ "I can tell you that caused a good deal of jealousy. “I met the Royal Family as ordinary human beings, and they' are human beings. "The present King and Queen with the delightful Princesses, make my leaving the Palace very hard. For they are as happy a family as you could hope to find anywhere in the world.” Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose used to run round Mr Chalkley’s wheelbarrow and dig for worms, and ask him questions. Now that he has retired Mr Chalkley’s first thought is to find another job. "To work as a commissionaire or bank messenger would suit me down to the ground,” he said. "Being a Royal gardener meant starting at 4 o’clock in the morning and I think I deserve something a little less arduous. People don t realise how big the Palace gardens are. There are 54 acres—mostly grass, which keeps three mowers going the whole of the summer—and it takes all the gardeners’ time to keep it up <o scratch,”