A leading horticulturalist and businessman, whose name became synonymous with a Suffolk town, will be remembered with a service of thanksgiving in September.

Charles Notcutt, who died on July 1, aged 81, was former chairman of family-owned garden centre firm Notcutts, which he joined in 1958 as assistant to the nursery production director, in Woodbridge.

The ex-mayor was actively involved in town life, serving on the town council from 2009-2015, as well as being involved in Woodbridge Museum, Woodbridge Rugby Club and the Rotary Club of Woodbridge.

A service of thanksgiving is due to be held on Friday, September 11, at 2.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Market Hill.

More than 500 people are expected to attend the service, which will include a eulogy about his professional achievements by Lord Deben, and about his enthusiastic personality and enormous capacity for friendship, by son Andrew.

Mr Notcutt was born in Ipswich in 1934 and educated at Edinburgh Academy.

He joined the family firm the year Notcutts garden centre opened Woodbridge, becoming director in 1961, managing director in 1964, and serving as chairman from 1974-2006.

Mr Notcutt was a member of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) council from 1959-1971, and was on the governing bodies of the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, East Malling Research Station and John Innes Research Institute.

He was made a Fellow of Writtle College in 2009, twice served as the chairman of Woodbridge Horticultural Society and was a former governor of Otley College and a past president of the Suffolk Agricultural Association.

Notcutts today has branches across the country, including at Norwich, Woodbridge and Peterborough, with a turnover of around £55million and about 1,200 staff.

In 1993, Mr Notcutt was awarded the OBE for his services to horticulture.

He is survived by wife, Gill, children William, Caroline and Andrew, and eight grandchildren.

Anyone wishing to attend the service is asked to email bamptonm@notcutts.co.uk.