Tony Sissons

Tony Sissons, founder of Sisley Garden Tours died in November 2015. He left his wife Bobbie, four children, three step children and ten grandchildren. Tony’s valuable experience, sense of humour and insight into the business will be greatly missed. However, his love of the English garden and the sharing of it with others remains his legacy through Sisley Garden Tours.

Tony’s working life started at sea, with a stint in the Royal Navy where he developed a life-long love of sailing. After a long and interesting career in the family paint business that took him around the world, Tony established Sisley Garden Tours in 1992. He had a passion for beautiful gardens and gardening and wanted to share this with others.

Sisley Garden Tours gave international clients the opportunity to experience the very best gardens in the UK and Europe. Tony escorted these tours, sharing with clients his knowledge, good humour and passion for gardens. The Sisley Garden Tours Guest Book contains hundreds of lovely comments about him from previous clients.

Tony was a driving force at ‘Harrogate in Bloom’, a nation-wide initiative to showcase horticultural achievements. Tony was also heavily involved with the ‘Friends of Valley Gardens’, a local community group set up to preserve and promote Harrogate’s superb pleasure gardens, where he helped develop the rather special New Zealand garden.

We continue to be inspired by Tony’s vigour and enthusiasm for the horticultural world.

Fran Pride & Colette Walker, Directors