To all Tamsyn's dearest friends and family, 

For those of you who do not already know, Tamsyn died peacefully at home with us around her on Monday 18th September. 

She had enjoyed a lovely weekend with all her children and grandchildren drinking champagne, sharing jokes, music and stories. 

In the end her cancer progressed extraordinarily quickly.  

She was so thrilled in her last week to have received so many lovely  messages from her friends, former colleagues and students about the impact she had on their lives and the strong regard in which everyone held her. 

To the end she was focused on the future:  she commissioned an engraved glass for a community award in Halesworth and showed her ongoing commitment to the work she started with Halesworth in Bloom by paying for 5 more years of gardening support. Having accomplished all of this she didn't want to hang around.
​
There will be a Humanist Celebration at the New Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth, IP19 8BY on Friday 6th October at 2pm. No flowers - donations to http://comprehensivefuture.org.uk/


All the best 

Michael Imison

Link to original article. Words by Thomas Chapman, Pictures by Halesworth In Bloom

A series of events to celebrate 200 years since the birth of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker took place at the weekend.

The famous 19th century botanist and explorer was born in Halesworth on June 30, 1817, and the town played host to exhibitions, presentations, walks and talks to honour his work and influence.
Hooker is regarded by many as one of the most important British men of science, and was the director of Kew Gardens as well as a keen supporter and friend of Charles Darwin.
Proceedings got under way on Friday night with a an exhibit showcasing botanical art inspired by Hooker at Halesworth Gallery.
On Saturday there were two guided walks around the Hooker Trail, which has been going for the last three years. The walk began on Quay Street at Hooker House which, on Sunday, played host to the unveiling of a newly-designed coloured montage on its window recess.

Following that came one of the weekend’s highlights, an exhibition and presentation at The Cut arts centre on Sunday afternoon. Visitors were able to view exhibitions, books and special commemorative items, whilst Hooker-inspired artwork by Edgar Sewter pupils was also on show. The afternoon’s talks included a Kew presentation with Victoria Mills talking about what Hooker’s letters reveal about the man and his discoveries, whilst Professor John Parker, director of Cambridge Botanical Gardens, gave audience members fascinating insights about what Hooker was really like as a person.
The weekend of events was organised by Halesworth in Bloom, and leader of the group Tamsyn Imison expressed her delight at how successful things went.
“The pictures exhibited on Friday evening were absolutely stunning and on Saturday we had superb weather for our two guided walks,” said Mrs Imison.
“Over 200 people came to the talks on Sunday afternoon to hear our superb speakers, who told some very interesting stories about Hooker.

“Everything we wanted to do went well.”
Guided walks along the Hooker Trail will again be available to the public during the bi-annual heritage open days in September, when a number of heritage buildings will also be open.

Ity was sunny and warm and a good sized group walked the trail from the United Reformed Church, Hooker House, Town Park, Thoroughfare, Memorial Garden and Church to see the lovely Memorial carved by Alfred Horace Gerrard RBS an English Modernist sculptor and Head of Sculpture of the Slade School of Art  and put up in 1931.
​We were so impressed by the lovely flowers in the church - see next blog.

Last night on Joseph Hooker's actual Birthday the 30th June, there was a very successful preview of stunning art works of great quality, well attended by visitors and stalwart locals.
Huge thanks to all who arranged it . A fantastic start to our Bicentenasry Weekend.