Staff Spotlight - Rob Boyd
Rob Boyd - Subject Network Leader in Science - talks us through his visit last month, when he went back to the campus gardens at Perth College UHI. He also answers some questions, so that we can get to know him a bit better 😊
“Phew! Most of the plants survived that frost last Wednesday night. A few of the potatoes that weren’t completely mounded, were nipped by the cold - as were a couple of emerging shoots growing from the Dahlia tubers I’d planted. I’m hoping the blossom from the fruit trees weren’t too affected and will produce apples, pears, cherries, plums, damsons - later in the season.
“There is a lot of work to do just now, with lockdown, as our NC Horticulture students are not around to help and will miss out on some of the tasks to do at this time of the year. Although they were very busy up until March - hard and soft landscaping, making fences and raised beds, among other things!
“The seeds in the poly-tunnel have come on well, despite the cold spell we’ve had. I still put fleece over them every night, just to keep them cosy. Low temperature tends to make for uneven germination, but they seem to have come through in the main.
“I’ve managed to plant out some of the sprouts, cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower plants out in the raised beds - and some of the seeds I sowed a few weeks ago of carrots, beetroot and turnip are coming through now. I have these all fleeced to prevent the pigeons from eating them!
“Bit disappointed so far that the wild flower mixes that I sowed haven’t appeared yet but, in these six weeks of weather - which has been cool and dry with a chilly wind, everything has just been held back a bit. Still, it keeps the weeds down - except for the Horsetail/Mares tail (Equisetum Arvense). It is so hard to get rid of, and spreads easily due to its long roots or rhizomes.
“Anyway, the forecast is for warmer weather – let’s hope for some rain too!”
Can you tell us a bit about the work that you do, and how you have progressed your career?
After studying Botany at Dundee University, and then a PhD at Sheffield University, I worked for 5 years at a nursery in Hampshire growing 12 acres of all year-round Chrysanthemums. I ran the plant cuttings import business which took me to a range of countries including: Holland, Tenerife, Australia and the far flung reaches of England to advise growers.
Moving back to Scotland in the 90s, I worked as a landscaper and set up a small garden centre in Bridge of Allan. I then moved into education, and for the past 20 years, I have worked for Perth College UHI teaching science, horticulture and renewables from National 3 up to research level. Currently, I am Subject Network Leader in Science for the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and have enjoyed every minute of those 20 years!
What might people be surprised to know about you?
Judy Murray and I were mixed doubles partners as juniors, when we represented our county at tennis.
I have over 1,500 vinyl albums, mostly soul and funk.
What’s your favourite type of food?
Smoked salmon and olives, and paella to follow.
Favourite holiday destinations?
Puerto Pollensa in Majorca. I was recently in the Outer Hebrides, which was just beautiful and somewhere I will go to again after lockdown!
First thing you would do if you won £1 million?
Right now, get a haircut at the excellent Perth College UHI Hairdressing salon.
What’s the best part of your job?
Simple, seeing students grow in confidence through the year and achieve their goals
What is the best advice you have ever received and who did it come from?
“Never stop trying, and keep having fun” - from Jeff Hooper, who owned the Chrysanthemum company I worked for.
Happiest memory?
My lovely girls, of course.
