Hybridizer Laurence W. Neel (1907-1988)

Orpington, Surrey, England

Eldest child of Iris hybridizer Edmund W. Neel, Laurence was born at Montreax, Switzerland the year before his parents relocated to British Columbia, Canada. When he reached his majority, Laurence moved to England, the land of his father's birth. There, on 17 Oct 1935, he married Doris W. "Winifred", daughter of Orpington Nursery founder Maj. Percy B. J. Murrell and his first wife, Bertha Marie (nee Young). At the time, Winifred's stepmother, the renowned Olive Murrell, was very active in hybridizing at Orpington. Laurence became the Managing Director at the nursery, which would close permanently in 1971.

In 1985 Laurence and Winifred relocated to Montreal, Canada to be near their daughter Myrtle, who had found employment there as a nurse.

Laurence died at Montreal Chest Hospital after a lengthy illness. During his illness Winifred established a garden for patients of the hospital. She continued to plant and tend the garden until her death in 2005; thereafter their daughter Myrtle looked after it.

Registrations/Introductions:

Miniature Dwarf Bearded: 'Blue Teal'.

Siberian: 'Mandarin Purple'.

Standard Dwarf Bearded: 'Meadow Court'.

Tall Bearded: 'Apricot Elegance', 'Bikini Blue', 'Golden Dollar', 'Haughty Miss', 'Highfield', 'Lilac Domino', 'Magga Dan', 'Midday Sun', 'Native Belle', 'Ortolan', 'Paper Moon', 'Principal Girl', 'Silver Tide', 'Sultry Sky', 'Votrix'.

-- Main.RPries - 2012-05-18