Mr. Harry Pettit, of 1 Hall Avenue, Rushden, who followed his father and grandfather as head gardener at Rushden Hall, died at his home on Sunday, aged 79.

He took over the care of the gardens fifty years ago, working first under the Sartoris family, and then as caretaker and park-keeper when the council took over.

Mr. Pettit served seven years’ apprenticeship as a journeyman gardener, working among other places, at Castle Ashby, Lord Portman’s estate at Blandford, Dorset, and Rougham Hall, Suffolk (where he concentrated on greenhouse work and was foreman over 24 gardeners).

On his father’s death he returned to Rushden Hall, where before the 1914 war there was a staff of seven gardeners. When the war came he carried on with the aid of his wife and two German P.O.Ws., and kept Northampton Hospital supplied with vegetables and fruit from the estate.

Mr. Pettit retired to become a part time gardener last September. About a fortnight ago he went down with bronchitis.

He leaves a widow and two daughters.