Robert Backhouse

Robert Backhouse was a member of the famous Backhouse family of horticulturalists and naturalists. He lived in a Georgian House at Sutton St. Nicholas near Hereford, where he and his wife Sarah commercially bred new species of daffodils. Coming from a wealthy family he lived off his own means, thus giving him time to develop his pastime. In 1923 they developed the first pink trumpet daffodil, which was named “Mrs R. O. Backhouse” after his wife. Many more pink daffodils have since appeared, but many experts still regard his as one of the best 100 years later.

Originally from County Durham, where he enjoyed rowing, Backhouse moved to Herefordshire in 1886 and became involved in local life. Apart from joining the local archery club, he was a member of the North Herefordshire Hunt. Despite being an unofficial entrant in the Continental Style archery event at the 1908 London Olympics, Backhouse’s score of 260 points was just three less than the French gold medal winner, Eugène Grisot, and Backhouse was presented with a special merit certificate for his performance.