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Biography of radio and TV garden presenter Jim McColl
He is most famous for being one of the original presenters and the longest serving presenter and gardener of Aberdeen television programme The Beechgrove Garden which is broadcast on BBC Scotland. He first presented the programme in 1978 with George Barron who remained a veteran presenter until he retired in 1984. Sadly George died in 2005.
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My new novel:
The Aberdeen skies are under attack from an enemy jet. It is spilling a strange yellow smoke. Minutes later, people start killing each other.
Former Royal Air Force Regiment Gunner Jason Harper witnesses this and then his wife, Pippa, telephones him, shouting that she needs him. They then get cut off. He sets straight out, unprepared for the nightmare that unfolds during his journey. Everyone seems to want to kill him.
Along the way, he pairs up with fellow survivor Imogen. But she enjoys killing the living dead far too much. Will she kill Jason in her blood thirst? Or will she hinder his journey through this zombie filled dystopian landscape to find his pregnant wife?
The Fence is the first in this series of post-apocalyptic military survival thrillers from the torturous mind of local horror and science fiction novel writer C.G. Buswell.
Download Now.
Buy the Paperback.
In 1995 the team started what was to be a long running radio gardening programme called The Beechgrove Potting Shed.
Since 1995 he has been presenting and answering gardening questions during the Beechgrove Potting Shed BBC Radio Scotland programme on a Sunday afternoon from 12:05 to 1pm. With a team of professional gardeners they give listeners advice, tips and hints for growing plants, vegetable sand flowers in the Scottish climate and news such as produce shows and events.
He has worked on many other radio programmes such as The Scottish Garden.
With such a broad Aberdonian accent and speaking Doric it may come as a surprise that he was not born in Aberdeen but Kilmarnock. His birth name is James H McColl.
His gardening education started at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive in Ayr where he completed a Scottish Diploma in Horticulture; National Diploma in Horticulture. His first horticultural job was with them.
Have you seen my beautiful golden retriever Lynne out and about in Aberdeen? Ask her for a high-five! She's a Bravehound PTSD assistance dog, so we'll often be in shops, restaurants, and the cinema together.
We've written a book where I talk about growing up in Aberdeen and then joining the army to be a medic and nurse, and developing military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I also talk about losing my son to suicide and the therapy I have had at Royal Cornhill Hospital and grief support groups in Aberdeen.
The author, Damien Lewis, said of Lynne:
"A powerful account of what one dog means to one man on his road to recovery. Both heart-warming and life-affirming. Bravo Chris and Lynne. Bravo Bravehound."
Download.
Buy the paperback.
An army veteran moves his family back to his Aberdeenshire home, but his nightmare neighbour starts a battle of wits with him. Who will win this One Last War?
Buy this latest novel by local author C.G. Buswell on Kindle or Paperback.
Advertise Here from just £70.
Other jobs soon followed which included posts at the University of Reading, Shropshire LEA to be the Horticultural Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) Advisory Service in the East Midlands and the National Agricultural Advisory Service.
In 1973 he returned to his native Scotland when he was appointed the Horticulture Advisor of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture. This included Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Orkney and Shetland Islands.
In 1974 became the head of the Horticultural Research and Development Unit at Craibstone.
In 1978 he moved into Aberdeenshire when he managed the innovative Waste Energy Project at the Glen Garioch Distillery in Oldmeldrum.
In the same year Jim joined George Barron to start a new gardening TV programme for BBC Scotland. Their early work helped The Beechgrove Garden become one of the most popular and long running television programmes for Scottish viewers.
For his services and devotion to horticulture he was awarded the Scottish Horticultural Medal in 1982, an Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1996, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gold Veitch Memorial Medal in 2000, Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies in 2003) and became an Honorary Fellow of the Scottish Agricultural College in 2004.
In 2007 Jim McColl won the Best Nations and Regions Presenter at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. He was awarded this at Grosvenor House in London during a ceremony attended by many stars and famous people.
During these years he has broadcast in many mediums like regional newspapers, radio and television where he presents or talks about a wide range of topics and issues.
He has been a member of many societies and boards such as being a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, a past Convenor of the National Farmers Union (NFU) of Scotland Glasshouse and Nursery Committee, was the first Chairman of the annual Scotgrow Exhibition and Conference, was a Council member of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and member of their Gardens Advisory Committee, a committee member of the RHS Scotland's National Gardening Show, a Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board of Gardening Scotland and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Todhill Country Centre the charity for the care of adults with learning difficulties in Ayrshire.
After reading Jim McColl's bio you may think he does not have any spare time, but he does make time for the odd round of golf and he is the regular compere for the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
He often undertakes engagements as an after dinner speaker especially at charity fund raising events and was the voice of the Bon Accord Glass Grampian television advert Owl.
In June 2007 he opened the Butterfly Bush Retreat therapy garden at the Hawthorn Day Unit at Aberdeen Royal Cornhill Hospital. The Hawthorn Day Unit assists in the developing of life skills for adults with learning difficulties. It contains a seating area, patio and colourful plants. It took two years to create and was funded by the Friends of Elmwood and Aberdeen Countryside Project.
On the 24 March 2007 Jim along with the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, John Reynolds, officially started the Aberdeen In Bloom 2007 campaign at the David Welch Winter Gardens in the Duthie Park.
He was married in 1959. His wife is nicknamed Billie and they have a son (Douglas) and a daughter (Jennifer). His grandson (from Jennifer) is called Ben who shares the same birthday as Jim.
There is another famous Jim McColl who is a Glasgow based entrepreneur of Jim McColl Associates Civil and Structural Engineers. They are not related.
A biodegradable eco friendly gardening jacket was nicknamed Jim's Jaiket in his honour. It was invented by students at the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot Watt University. It is made from hemp and potato starch and can be added to the compost heap once no longer needed. It has plenty of pockets to help find homes for all the bits and pieces needed whilst outdoors.
More Famous People From Aberdeen.
Jim McColl
Biography of radio and TV garden presenter Jim McColl
He is most famous for being one of the original presenters and the longest serving presenter and gardener of Aberdeen television programme The Beechgrove Garden which is broadcast on BBC Scotland. He first presented the programme in 1978 with George Barron who remained a veteran presenter until he retired in 1984. Sadly George died in 2005.
Follow us on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Contact Me.
My new novel:
The Aberdeen skies are under attack from an enemy jet. It is spilling a strange yellow smoke. Minutes later, people start killing each other.
Former Royal Air Force Regiment Gunner Jason Harper witnesses this and then his wife, Pippa, telephones him, shouting that she needs him. They then get cut off. He sets straight out, unprepared for the nightmare that unfolds during his journey. Everyone seems to want to kill him.
Along the way, he pairs up with fellow survivor Imogen. But she enjoys killing the living dead far too much. Will she kill Jason in her blood thirst? Or will she hinder his journey through this zombie filled dystopian landscape to find his pregnant wife?
The Fence is the first in this series of post-apocalyptic military survival thrillers from the torturous mind of local horror and science fiction novel writer C.G. Buswell.
Download Now.
Buy the Paperback.
Beechgrove Garden
In 1995 the team started what was to be a long running radio gardening programme called The Beechgrove Potting Shed.
Since 1995 he has been presenting and answering gardening questions during the Beechgrove Potting Shed BBC Radio Scotland programme on a Sunday afternoon from 12:05 to 1pm. With a team of professional gardeners they give listeners advice, tips and hints for growing plants, vegetable sand flowers in the Scottish climate and news such as produce shows and events.
He has worked on many other radio programmes such as The Scottish Garden.
With such a broad Aberdonian accent and speaking Doric it may come as a surprise that he was not born in Aberdeen but Kilmarnock. His birth name is James H McColl.
His gardening education started at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive in Ayr where he completed a Scottish Diploma in Horticulture; National Diploma in Horticulture. His first horticultural job was with them.
Have you seen my beautiful golden retriever Lynne out and about in Aberdeen? Ask her for a high-five! She's a Bravehound PTSD assistance dog, so we'll often be in shops, restaurants, and the cinema together.
We've written a book where I talk about growing up in Aberdeen and then joining the army to be a medic and nurse, and developing military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I also talk about losing my son to suicide and the therapy I have had at Royal Cornhill Hospital and grief support groups in Aberdeen.
The author, Damien Lewis, said of Lynne:
"A powerful account of what one dog means to one man on his road to recovery. Both heart-warming and life-affirming. Bravo Chris and Lynne. Bravo Bravehound."
Download.
Buy the paperback.
An army veteran moves his family back to his Aberdeenshire home, but his nightmare neighbour starts a battle of wits with him. Who will win this One Last War?
Buy this latest novel by local author C.G. Buswell on Kindle or Paperback.
Advertise Here from just £70.
Other jobs soon followed which included posts at the University of Reading, Shropshire LEA to be the Horticultural Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) Advisory Service in the East Midlands and the National Agricultural Advisory Service.
In 1973 he returned to his native Scotland when he was appointed the Horticulture Advisor of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture. This included Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Orkney and Shetland Islands.
In 1974 became the head of the Horticultural Research and Development Unit at Craibstone.
In 1978 he moved into Aberdeenshire when he managed the innovative Waste Energy Project at the Glen Garioch Distillery in Oldmeldrum.
In the same year Jim joined George Barron to start a new gardening TV programme for BBC Scotland. Their early work helped The Beechgrove Garden become one of the most popular and long running television programmes for Scottish viewers.
For his services and devotion to horticulture he was awarded the Scottish Horticultural Medal in 1982, an Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1996, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gold Veitch Memorial Medal in 2000, Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies in 2003) and became an Honorary Fellow of the Scottish Agricultural College in 2004.
In 2007 Jim McColl won the Best Nations and Regions Presenter at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. He was awarded this at Grosvenor House in London during a ceremony attended by many stars and famous people.
During these years he has broadcast in many mediums like regional newspapers, radio and television where he presents or talks about a wide range of topics and issues.
He has been a member of many societies and boards such as being a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, a past Convenor of the National Farmers Union (NFU) of Scotland Glasshouse and Nursery Committee, was the first Chairman of the annual Scotgrow Exhibition and Conference, was a Council member of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and member of their Gardens Advisory Committee, a committee member of the RHS Scotland's National Gardening Show, a Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board of Gardening Scotland and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Todhill Country Centre the charity for the care of adults with learning difficulties in Ayrshire.
After reading Jim McColl's bio you may think he does not have any spare time, but he does make time for the odd round of golf and he is the regular compere for the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
He often undertakes engagements as an after dinner speaker especially at charity fund raising events and was the voice of the Bon Accord Glass Grampian television advert Owl.
In June 2007 he opened the Butterfly Bush Retreat therapy garden at the Hawthorn Day Unit at Aberdeen Royal Cornhill Hospital. The Hawthorn Day Unit assists in the developing of life skills for adults with learning difficulties. It contains a seating area, patio and colourful plants. It took two years to create and was funded by the Friends of Elmwood and Aberdeen Countryside Project.
On the 24 March 2007 Jim along with the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, John Reynolds, officially started the Aberdeen In Bloom 2007 campaign at the David Welch Winter Gardens in the Duthie Park.
He was married in 1959. His wife is nicknamed Billie and they have a son (Douglas) and a daughter (Jennifer). His grandson (from Jennifer) is called Ben who shares the same birthday as Jim.
There is another famous Jim McColl who is a Glasgow based entrepreneur of Jim McColl Associates Civil and Structural Engineers. They are not related.
A biodegradable eco friendly gardening jacket was nicknamed Jim's Jaiket in his honour. It was invented by students at the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot Watt University. It is made from hemp and potato starch and can be added to the compost heap once no longer needed. It has plenty of pockets to help find homes for all the bits and pieces needed whilst outdoors.
More Famous People From Aberdeen.
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