11
SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2026
 ASSOCIATION NEWS 
the Vigour Committee and the recognition of his 
contribution by the ISTA Executive Committee 
during the workshop in Angers, France  
in December 2025.
I am so pleased that Stan knew how much he 
was valued. His diagnosis just two months later 
when he went into hospital was a great shock as 
we had no idea that he was so ill. However, he had 
his 84th birthday in hospital with 12 members 
of his family in his room, food brought in by his 
daughters, a birthday cake and party games. 
It was a surprisingly happy time and he loved it. 
He was in hospital for six weeks and I spent this 
time with him 24/7, which was a great comfort 
for us both.
At his funeral, a friend and colleague gave 
the eulogy, finishing with a very appropriate 
quotation from the author Robert Louis 
Stevenson:
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, 
but by the seeds that you sow.”
That was the way Stan lived!
Stan continued his research work on seeds 
after he retired from SAC in 1996, but now in 
collaboration with good friends and colleagues in 
many countries, particularly France, Denmark, 
Italy, Türkiye and Iran. This research led to the 
radicle emergence test and the introduction of 
the third vigour test into the ISTA Rules that had 
originated from his ideas and research.
Stan was a man of principle and liked to see 
things done properly. He would happily call 
people out if he thought they weren’t being 
honest. That took courage, particularly if his 
actions had some risk to himself. Stan’s principles 
meant that he preferred to work with people 
who he liked and trusted. That was why he 
enjoyed the happy and productive times he had 
when working together with the ISTA Vigour 
Committee. He was inspiring to work with, 
supportive, honest, generous and kind, always 
willing to make work enjoyable, and we had lots 
of fun. I was pleased to discover these views 
of Stan as a man were also shared in the many 
messages of condolence that I have received. I 
know he would be overwhelmed by the nature of 
these messages from friends and colleagues, just 
as he was moved by the tributes from 
before his death, our marriage almost 39 years. 
We not only shared our passion for seeds, but also 
our interests in walking, theatre, ballet, classical 
music and travel. He also enjoyed gardening, but 
he was the under-gardener; I was the gardener 
and he left all the decisions to me!

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