McVicar, Jessica Francis, (Jekka)
Born Bristol 21 Feb. 1951; d of John Oliver Stanley-Clarke and Clare Stanley-Clarke (née Lowinsky); m 1976, Ian McVicar; one s one d
organic herb farmer, since 1985; author, since 1993
Education
Cranborne Chase; Somerset Coll. of Art
Career
Flautist and clarinettist with Marsupilami, heavy progressive pop gp, 1969–71; Prodn Office, Drama Serials, BBC TV, 1971–74; Dir and Prod., Community TV, 1974–79; Dir, Prod. and Unit Manager, Avon and Somerset Constabulary Video Unit, 1979–81. Presenter: Herbs Pure and Simple (2 series), BBC Radio 4, 1999, 2000; Sunday Gardening, BBC Radio Bristol, 2005–. Lecture and book tours: South Africa, 2007; Australia, 2008. Royal Horticultural Society: Mem. Council, 2005–15; Member: Fruit, Veg. and Herb Cttee, 1998–2014 (Hon. Mem., 2016); Conservation and Envmt Adv. Cttee, 2003–11; RHS Three Counties Agricl Soc. Jt Cttee, 2007–18 (Jt Chm., 2011–14); Nominations and Appts Cttee, 2009–14; Judge, Floral Exhibits, 1998; Chm., Judging, 2011–15, 2018, Chelsea Flower Show; RHS Ambassador, 2016–; Vice Pres., 2016–. Mem., Horticulture Standards Cttee, Soil Assoc., 2011–17. President: W of England Herb Gp, 2006–; Herb Soc., 2013–14 (Vice Pres., 2015–); Friends of Univ. of Bristol Botanic Garden, 2014–. Contrib., BBC Gardeners’ World Mag., 2002–. 62 Gold Medals, RHS, 1993–2009, incl. 14 Gold Medals, Chelsea Flower Show, 1995–2009; Tudor Rose Award, Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, 2007, 2008; Colin Spires Herb Trophy, RHS, 2004–09; Lawrence Medal, RHS, 2009; Lifetime Achievement Award, Garden Media Guild, 2012; VMH 2017
Publications
Jekka’s Complete Herb Book, 1994, 9th edn 2009; Good Enough to Eat, 1997, 2nd edn as Cooking with Flowers, 2003; Seeds: the ultimate guide to growing successfully from seed, 2001, 3rd edn 2008; The New Book of Herbs, 2002, 2nd edn as Grow Herbs, 2010; The Complete Book of Vegetables, Herbs and Fruit, 2002, 5th edn 2009; Jekka’s Herb Cookbook, 2010; A Pocketful of Herbs, 2019
Recreations
music (classical and modern), cooking, gardening, plant photography
Address
Rose Cottage, Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3SY
(01454) 418878
Sales@jekkas.com
