This year’s Ilkley Flower Show will help honour a local teacher who helped inspire many of the town’s gardeners, including Alan Titchmarsh.

Held at the Clarke Foley Centre on August 24, the 2013 flower show will be the 60th anniversary of the popular event.

This year secretary Heather Chapman MBE wants to honour one of the towns most inspirational horticulturalists with a new trophy for young entrants.

Harry Rhodes taught at All Saints Primary School from the 1950s to the 1970s, and during his time the keen gardener inspired many the town’s young people to get involved with horticulture, including Ilkley born Alan Titchmarsh.

Mr Titchmarsh, president of Ilkley Flower Show, has referred to Mr Rhodes in his memoirs, saying: “He had a wonderful way of teaching, which was bouncy and enthusiastic and engaging.The sort of teacher you found yourself listening to with your mouth open.” The green fingered teacher helped get the Gardner’s World presenter into gardening by selling him his first plant - a potted cactus, and he knew he wanted to be a gardener by the age of 10.

Mr Rhodes also taught Mrs Chapman’s son John, who she says developed an interest in gardening from Mr Rhode’s infectious enthusiasm.

For his role in shaping Ilkley’s future gardeners, a trophy at this year’s event will be named after the teacher, and will be presented in one of the shows numerous categories for young gardeners.

Mrs Chapman said: “It would be nice to present the best young entrant with the Harry Rhodes cup. I’d just like to find out more about him.”

This year’s flower show will be the first since Chairman Geoffrey de Vere died in April.

There are 15 classes for under 16s in the show, and over 100 classes altogether, including floral art, homecraft, baking and vegetables. Entries must be received by August 21.

The show is open to the public from 2pm and awards will be presented at 3.45pm.

Anyone with more information about Mr Rhodes or his family, or who wants to enter the flower show, can contact Mrs Chapman on (01943) 607022, e-mail aandh@chapman.go-plus.net or by writing to Holme Grove, St John’s Road, Ilkley, LS29 8QT.