By Angela Youngman Jun 15, 2009, 14:59 GMT
Peter Beales has become a household name among gardeners, receiving an MBE for his services to horticulture especially roses. This is his autobiography and it makes fascinating reading.
It traces his life from a childhood in rural Norfolk, the horticultural apprenticeship he served and his attempts to build up a small business supplying roses and offering garden services in southern England.
His eventual move back to Norfolk with its successes and failures is well charted. Peter is honest about problems he has faced and how they have been dealt with. It shows how with will power, determination and a bit of luck a business can built up from nothing, and even when things look blackest can still survive.
For any gardener or rose enthusiast this is a must read book. It also makes valuable reading to anyone seeking to develop a career in business as it reveals the challenges of diversification, and ultimately expanding a family business.
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