First gardening programme - The Week in the Garden

9 May 1931 saw not only the first 'BBC 'gardening programme', it saw the start of expert conversation on the radio with the listener, as distinct from a scripted talk.

C.H. Middleton, the son of a Northamptonshire gardener spoke for fifteen minutes from notes alone on 'In Your Garden'.

The conversational vision was held by Mr. Fielden, BBC General Talks, as this typed memo suggests:

'There really is no need for you to submit a manuscript every time you talk, so long as you have sufficient notes and can extemporize - I would be happy if you would endeavour to tell and not read your garden talks'.

Mr Middleton also favoured interactivity. When the BBC agonised about scheduling, he simply asked his listeners: "There does not seem a better way of finding out what your wishes are, whether you regard me as a stimulation for the weekend's gardening, or to send you off to sleep after Sunday lunch. The BBC want to please you and I am quite prepared to do what I'm told as far as I can and to give you what you want". 7009 letters opted for Sundays; 2950 for Fridays; and 66 troubled to write to say they really did not care.

Mr Middleton's style meant he connected with his audience; and was thus a natural choice for the Ministry of Food's Dig For Victory campaign.

In Your Garden remained on the schedule, albeit hosted by other presenters, until 1970. Its legacy lives on with Radio 4 and so many BBC Local Stations.

Mr Middleton died in 1945, and a wrought-iron gate at the BBC Written Archives Centre in Caversham is a fitting tribute to his contribution.