Across the horticulture industry, people are paying tribute to David J. C. Austin, who has died at the age of 67. He had previously been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and incurable neurological condition.
David was chairman of the world-renowned rose-breeding business David Austin Roses, which was founded by his father, David C. H. Austin, in Shropshire in 1969.
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David J. C. was born in 1958, joined the family business in 1990 and went on to lead it for more than 30 years, working alongside his father until his death in 2018. During these three decades, the specialist nursery became an internationally recognised name among gardeners.
David J. C. is survived by his wife, Penny, and his children, Richard, James and Olivia Austin, who are the third generation of the family to work in the business. They said:
“First and foremost, Dad was a gardener. That was at the heart of who he was. He carried our grandfather’s vision with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility, always putting the roses, the family business and its people before himself.
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"He was kind and modest, with a playful spirit, a sense of adventure and a real enjoyment of life. He faced his illness with the same courage and dignity that he brought to life. Above all, he was our Dad, and words cannot express how much we will miss him. We couldn’t be more proud of him.”
David Austin Roses was founded with the ambition to combine the timeless beauty and fragrance of Old Roses with the benefits of modern hybrids: repeat flowering, good health and a diversity of colour. The result was the English Rose, which became popular among gardeners and designers thanks to its distinctive form, scent and exceptional performance.
Many of the rose varieties bred by David Austin Roses have become legendary over the years and are now found in gardens across the world. These include roses such as Gertrude Jekyll, which is much loved for its strong scent and perfect rosette shape, and Olivia Rose Austin, prized for its disease resistance and long flowering season.
Now, David Austin Roses sells around two million roses every year and has earned 30 RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
The family business also shares its expertise through education and support, with the aim of making rose-growing accessible to gardeners of all levels.
David Austin Roses will now continue to operate under its experienced leadership team, and the next generation of the Austin family, and says it is "as committed as ever to serving our partners and rose lovers around the world".
