Obituary: George Davie – popular Lymington market trader had ‘a bit of cheek’

KNOWN for his cheeky banter and amazing horticultural knowledge, longstanding Lymington market trader George Davie has died at the age of 70.

Born in 1951 at the Fenwick hospital in Lyndhurst to parents George (Jock) and Sheila Davie, George grew up in Setthorns Road, Sway, and went to St Luke’s Primary School and then Ashley Secondary School.

He was the oldest in the family followed by siblings Stuart, Ian and Sharon.

George left school at 16 and was taken on by the New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times as a printing apprentice. After completing his training he remained at the newspaper until he was around 22 when his passion for horticulture led him to begin growing and selling plants, shrubs and flowers.

George began running a weekly stall at Lymington market in around 1973, where he developed a loyal following of customers and friends.

His brother Stuart said: “George always had a bit of cheek about him and it was that and his amazing knowledge that endeared him to his many loyal customers.

"Our maternal grandfather had a landscaping business so the love of horticulture and growing was certainly a family trait.”

Inspired by childhood holidays to Weymouth, George later moved Tincleton, near Dorchester, where he began growing his own plants and shrubs in greenhouse and polytunnels in the garden.

He later expanded to run a stall at Dorchester but continue to return to the New Forest area for his weekly pop-up in Lymington.

Stuart said: “George was diagnosed with cancer around two years ago and that led him to make the difficult decision to give up his stall at Lymington market 18 months ago when the travelling became too much.

"He loved the 45-plus years he was at Lymington and regarded many of his customers as friends.”

In his twenties, George was an excellent sportsman, playing football and squash amongst other activities, and in later years he became a prominent member of the Freemasons.

George was married twice and leaves five children: Rachel, Sarah, Katherine, Michael and Jamie, plus four grandchildren. He died peacefully on 2nd August.