Liz Ford, a well loved and respected landscape architect practising in Hampshire, sadly passed away on Friday 30th November 2012 after a long and brave battle with cancer. Since her death many friends and colleagues have written messages to her memory. I make no apology in drawing on those to write this piece.

Liz was an extraordinary lady – you could be forgiven for thinking she was a storybook character. She had the kind of personality that would fill a room; with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm for life and her chosen profession of Landscape Architecture.

Hitching a ride

Liz studied landscape architecture at the University of Georgia in the early 1960s. She came back to the UK (after running out of money, and hitching a ride on a container ship), and became a member of the Landscape Institute in 1965. In her early career she worked as an assistant for Brian Clouston in his fledgling practice in County Durham. Latterly, she was the county landscape architect at Hampshire County Council, and then set up her own company as a sole practitioner.

During her career Liz stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the profession’s ‘big-names’. In addition to Brian Clouston, she knew Dame Sylvia Crowe and Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. Perhaps Liz was the profession’s covert ‘big-name’. She once said she would have liked to have stood for presidency of the Landscape Institute – but never got around to it.

Active involvement

However, Liz’s active involvement with the Landscape Institute was immense, and sustained over many years. Early on she was involved with what was then called the South Central Chapter. In 2004 she joined the committee of the South West Branch. She continued (after another boundary change) on the committee of the South East Branch until 2011. She served on the institute’s Council in 2009-2011, then on the Board of Trustees (as chair of the technical committee) from 2011 until a few weeks before her death.

Liz was a force to be reckoned with. Chairing a meeting with her in attendance was a challenge – she loved to digress and tell stories – of which she had an endless supply! She had a great sense of humour, and an eccentric manner (many have commented on her filter-tip cigarette holder) that disarmed people and allowed her to engage with anyone – whether they belonged to the ways of her own ‘old-school’ charm, or the up-and-coming modern face of the profession.

Humanity at its best

Liz had a no-nonsense approach, but was able to simultaneously balance that with diplomacy and fun. A former colleague described her as ‘humanity at its best’. She was known for her high standards, particularly for the tricky questions she put into the annual South East branch pub-quiz, including the plant ident round, compiled with exotic samples from her beloved garden. She was disappointed in those who didn’t know the answers (most who attended), but was nevertheless generous in awarding half points!

Her stoicism and determination also ensure that her legacy will endure as the product of her Landscape Institute involvement, including the ‘Evolving Spaces’ book she helped compile as a record of 75 years of the Landscape Institute in the South West. She was a great believer in the importance of preserving the Institute’s archives and heritage. It probably never occurred to her that she was part of that heritage.

Butterfly meadows

The many successfully realised landscape designs delivered by Liz also bear testimony to her life. In some of her pivotal work throughout her career she created butterfly meadows near Winchester; drew up plans for the restoration of Burton Park in Sussex; facilitated a major noise-reduction bund between a main railway line and a village in Bedfordshire; masterplanned a new residential development in Harrow, Middlesex; and oversaw a number of management projects for Housing Associations.

Most of all, Liz’s passion for the landscape cause was an inspiration to countless others. If everyone in the profession can be half as passionate about its future as Liz was, landscape architecture will continue to have a bright future. In the meantime, all those who knew Liz will miss her greatly.

Liz is survived by her husband John, and two sons James and Charles. The family would be grateful for any charitable donations to be made to McMillan Cancer Support in Liz’s memory.

LI PRESIDENT SUE ILLMAN ADDS:

Liz was known to me through her work on the LI Technical Committee and as a member of the LI Board of Trustees. However I want especially to celebrate  one of her most important recent achievements. This was her work in helping to set up and run the fundraising appeal for the Jo Yeates memorial garden. It was a testament to her energy and determination that, together with her fellow LI members in the South East Branch she ensured that the fundraising appeal for the memorial garden was such a success.  The garden is a beautiful memorial to Jo Yeates. The energy that went into ensuring that it was built is also a fine memorial to Liz Ford.