My friend John Blanchard, who has died aged 92, was an expert on almost every aspect of the genus Narcissus, but particularly on the breeding, raising and introduction of miniature daffodils, whose flowers are less than 50mm across.
He was born at Wilverley, the family home in Blandford, Dorset, to Douglas, a solicitor, and Phyllis (nee Reade), a housewife. He attended Blandford grammar school and Bryanston school before going on to study law at Cambridge University. After national service with the Intelligence Corps (1948-50), he joined his father in the law firm Luff and Blanchard, where he practised until he retired in 2015.
