Ray Norton

As a family they aspired to the good life, keeping cows and chickens, and later developing a plant nursery and landscaping business.

Ray has personal experience of dementia within the family: `I appreciate the uplift and joy that visual recognition of the beauty found within plants and gardens brings to people.

`Contact with nature, working with plants and creating harmony in the garden are powerful enlivening activities both personally and within a social environment.'

Ray has been involved with the Saturday Volunteers at Thrive’s office and gardens in the village of Beech Hill, near Reading for many years.

He appreciates the desire within people to give freely for the benefit of others and he believes that that in itself, creates a common bond and fellowship. Ray added that he’s looking forward to assisting in the promotion and provision of Thrive’s ambitions.