Announcement from the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand

It is with much sadness that  I inform you all of the passing away of our Patron Mr Les Cleveland on the 15th May after a short illness.

Les was the perfect patron of our society, he was very generous and supported the society through the Cleveland awards and made it possible for colour pages to be added to the Annual.  H-e supported the society in many other ways and regularly attended  national shows. He  was responsible for spreading thousands of daffodils through Otago in road side plantings and donated annually to a nominated charity bunches of daffodils for fund raising.

He was awarded a Bronze Medal in 1985 in recognition for his contribution to the Society and the promotion of daffodils to the public.

Those of you who attended the 2012 World Daffodil Convention will recall the magnificant garden and grounds at Les’s home and how proud he was  to entertain  and show people around the grounds.

Les was everything a patron of a society should be and will be sadly missed.

Our sincere sympathy goes to his wife Margaret and the Cleveland family.

Trevor Rollinson

President

2 comments for “Announcement from the National Daffodil Society of New Zealand

  1. Trevor, it was such a pleasure to meet Les and Margaret Cleveland and to tour their amazing garden.  Even from the brief time I was there, it was easy to see that he was a wonderful patron to your society and an incredible man. I am sorry to hear of Margaret and the Cleveland family’s loss.

  2. Les was such an incredibly inspiring part of our 2012 New Zealand “springtime” and all of us were so glad we got to know him, and to share his garden, his love for plants and birds and music—and people.

    Loyce McKenzie

     

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