Pax Hackett:One of the most renowned and expert figures in Irish gardening circles and a former president of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland (RHSI), Pax Hackett, has died at the age of 86.
Pax and Patricia Hackett met almost 70 years ago, married in June 1947 and were rarely seen apart in the intervening years. But a serious illness to Pax involving lengthy hospitalisation separated them some eight months ago, and after a brave and prolonged battle he succumbed on July 11th.
Although christened Patrick Alfred Xavier, his father shortened this to the initials which Pax himself adopted as his favoured title. He received his early schooling in Limerick and later attended Presentation College in Bray. He qualified as a civil engineer in UCD in 1947.
The newly wed Pax and Patricia spent a few years in the midlands of England, where he worked on open-cast coal mining and they returned to Dublin in late 1949 when Pax took an appointment in the then Department of Transport and Power's newly-fledged airport division. The remainder of his career was totally devoted to airport engineering throughout Ireland.
In the late '50s he moved to Dublin airport as an expert on airport pavements and airport engineering when that division was separated from the department into what eventually became Aer Rianta. He retired as chief engineer in 1985.
Hackett was more widely known as a top-class gardener. He believed in growing plants well and demonstrating this ability by exhibiting at horticultural shows. Both were accomplished "grow and show" gardeners both at local and national level.
They joined the RHSI in 1970 and competed vigorously at the society shows between 1971 and 1985. They specialised in dahlias, sweet pea, narcissi, fuchsias and roses. In their Bray suburban garden a relatively small number of plants were grown to the highest possible standards and prepared assiduously for exhibition, building a substantial reputation and the Hackett name appears on no less than 17 of the RHSI's trophies.
They were also prolific winners of medals and spoons. In 1978 he was elected to the RHSI council and when the incumbent treasurer became ill took on that post up to 1982. He was elected president of the society in the years 1988 to 1993.
He was very much involved in the RHSI's annual plant sale and ran the greenhouse and houseplant stall for over 30 years. He propagated a vast range of species for the sale which were always presented to the highest standard and duly labelled.
Nor was he happy merely to sell plants but lucky purchasers, particularly if they asked, were always regaled with advice and tips.
In over 20 years of show judging, he was regarded as most knowledgeable in the area of specialised classes and for being decisive and extremely fair. He enjoyed meeting exhibitors to discuss the outcome of his judging and to point out areas for improvement. He believed in sharing knowledge and many a gardener benefited from his enthusiastic encouragement.
Hackett was honoured by the RHSI in 2005 with life membership. The couple were also strong supporters of their local Delgany and District Horticultural Society of which he was president for 10 years. Plant sales are a regular feature of its shows and they were the main suppliers and purveyors of plants for that sale. They were well known at all the shows in the greater Dublin area, initially as exhibitors and more recently as much sought-after judge and steward.
Hackett also had an abiding enthusiasm and life-long interest in practically all forms of sport and was particularly passionate about rugby, which he played in his younger days.
The couple shared a wonderful spirituality. He was a staunch supporter of parish activities in the Queen of Peace Church, Bray.
He was also a devoted husband and father and is survived by Patricia, his sons Bryan and Paul, daughter-in-law Mary, grandchildren Orla, Ciara, Rory, Aisling, Killian, Cormac and Ronan, great-grandchildren Margaret and Saoirse, and by his brothers and sisters.
Pax Hackett: born April 4th, 1921; died July 11th, 2007.