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28th May 2025

Valerie Finnis trained as a gardener at the Waterperry School of Horticulture for Ladies, and stayed on to teach until her marriage. Waterperry was founded in 1932 by Beatrix Havergal (1901-80), photographed here by Valerie Finnis. Many who trained there went on to garden professionally, including Pamela Schwerdt, the influential joint head gardener at Sissinghurst from 1959 until 1990.

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