Kenneth Wyman was one of the youngest of our class (he was born in early 1945) . He was a generally quiet and reserved boy -- but not always. Our classmate Raymond Rogers recalls that Ken once handed in a test paper to science teacher Norman Lucas with a note at the foot of the page:  "If you don't like it you can lump it".   Ken explained to the highly irate teacher that the note was really intended for Raymond, who was seated next to him.  Ken's favourite subject at school was biology, and indeed he was to spend his entire working life in that field.

After school Ken began an intensive, five-year Horticultural Pupillage training with the Durban Municipal Parks department, while studying part time for a National Technical Certificate in Horticulture, and a Diploma in Park and Recreation Administration.  At that time, the Durban Parks Department was regarded as one of the finest horticultural training centers in the world.  This was hardly surprising.  Durban enjoyed a benign, frost-free climate and good soils suitable for a wide range of plants, an inexpensive labour force to do the hard work of gardening, and a British colonial tradition of botanical enthusiasts who collected and dispersed exotic plants from a worldwide empire.    Although the training included such elements as cemeteries, pools, and beaches, Ken was immediately drawn to the city's Botanic Gardens, and decided that was where his future lay.  

Ken met Felicity Henderson at a Parks Department Christmas function in 1966.  They quickly became a couple, and were married in1970.  Ken and Felicity did not have children, and they were able to enjoy many trips to the United States, Europe, and Asia.  Here is a photo of the young couple catching an inter-island ferry in Greece:

Ken's dedication to the Botanic Gardens so impressed his superiors that in 1975 he was appointed Curator, although he was only 30 years old at the time.  The position was a heavy responsibility.  The gardens are internationally renowned;  they are the oldest in Africa, and occupy 15 hectares (36 acres) of beautiful terrain and diverse specimens. Ken held the position for the next 20 years. 

Ken recounted with great pride his achievements as Curator:

"During my term as Curator I was instrumental in extending the various plant collections in the Botanic Gardens, including orchids, bromeliads, cycads, tropical trees and particularly palms, which are now probably some of the dominant features of this lovely area. Over the years we extended the nursery area considerably, to increase the orchid collection, building a new orchid display area adjacent.  Several other projects included brick paving all the old tarred paths and the realignment of several of these, resulting in quite extensive landscaping. A garden for the sight-impaired was built, and braille signage installed, which created much interest.  An Information Centre was built, and guided tours of the Botanic Gardens were started.  Toward the end of my term of Curatorship we set up the Durban Botanic Garden Trust, which has gone on to raise considerable funds, building a large Education Centre and further developments, as well as raising funds for important maintenance work, as all municipal departments receive less and less funding in their annual budgets". 

Here's a photo of Ken in his beloved gardens:

In 1995 Ken retired for reasons of ill health.  He and Felicity moved to Cape Town, where Ken was in his element in a very different but astonishingly rich botanical environment.  The Cape is the smallest of six recognized Floral Kingdoms of the world, with an extraordinary concentration of  species found nowhere else, ranging from the characteristic fynbos to the emblematic protea.  Ken regularly roamed the vast and magnificent Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, at the eastern foot of Table Mountain.  He greatly enjoyed tending his own garden too.  Ken and Felicity also continued their international travels.  Ken was very interested in genealogy and by this time his research in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales had traced his Wyman ancestors back to the fourteen hundreds!

Unfortunately Ken suffered a massive stroke in 2019. At first his doctors doubted if he would even survive:  he spent eight weeks in intensive care, six of them on a ventilator.  However Ken made surprising progress in his recovery, and eventually was even able to walk modest distances.  But sadly, events took a turn for the worse when Ken was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, an ailment similar to Parkinson's, which causes gradual impairment of cognitive and physical functions.  Ken's health slowly declined, and eventually he could go out only in a wheelchair.  Throughout this period Felicity cared for him with great courage, grace, and devotion.  Ken achieved the great milestone of his 80th birthday on 2 January 2025, but shortly afterwards became ill with an infection, and for the last two weeks of his life he was confined to bed.  He passed away on 7 February 2025, with Felicity at his side.

Kenneth Wyman is survived by Felicity, his wife of almost 55 years.  Felicity has asked us to share the following poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), which has brought her some comfort:

[Special thanks to Felicity Wyman for her help in preparing this In Memory notice]