A talented teen who has chronic kidney disease has received a top award for his dedication to horticulture.
Caleb Phillips, who lives in Largs, was presented with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society's Student Certificate of Merit award at a ceremony at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
The 19-year-old, who is also an enthusiastic gamer, has been inspired with a passion for gardening thanks to Liz Henderson at Largs Campus and Nancy and Malcolm McQueen from the Organic Growers of Fairlie (OGF) in his further education in horticulture.
His latest accolade adds to the Young Environmentalist award he received from North Ayrshire Council last year.
All his recent achievements come as he continues to battle his condition and waits to begin crucial dialysis treatment which will enable him to go on a transplant waiting list.
Proud mum Claire said: “I am so proud of Caleb..
"He is a gardener at heart and just loves everything to do with horticulture. He has had amazing help, with Nancy and Malcolm going so out of their way.
“When he was in school he spent so much time in and out of hospital and still came out with a National 5 in rural skills.
“He was shielding during Covid, but we had polytunnels put in the back garden which allowed him to concentrate on his gardening passion. He just loved it.”
Caleb’s health concerns meant he remained in isolation in his fifth year at school, but at Claire’s suggestion he approached Nancy and Malcolm and began volunteering at the Fairlie community garden – where he’s now joined the committee.
That work won him the North Ayrshire award, and also saw the OGF group nominate him for the RCHS prize.
“It was such a fabulous evening,” Claire said. “He was the only young person there with all the top horticulturalists in the country.”
Such is Caleb’s passion that he has started his own horticultural business. He helps people around the town, grows produce for the Largs Foodbank, and has also been asked about undergoing training to become a Keep Scotland Beautiful garden assessor.
Caleb’s sister Hope works with Claire at their felt-making and textiles studio at West Kilbride, while older brother Jacob is studying psychology at Aberdeen university and dad Reuben is a waste operations manager at decommissioned nuclear plants around the UK.
Claire explained: “Caleb needs to be at the stage of dialysis first before he can be put onto the transplant list. It has been a waiting game for us all, but he stays very positive about things, and we’ve been assured that he will get his dialysis at last this year.
“This new award opens up opportunities for him, as even meeting people that night was fantastic.
“He had to do a portfolio of his work, showing photos of everything he did. The person in charge of the education programme said that they were so impressed with his portfolio that they have used it as an example of excellence.
It’s all a long way from his other passion, gaming – though that is something at which Caleb also excels, having reached the rank of number 2 in Europe in the video game Apex Legends.
“He did very well,” Claire continued. “He still games online with his friends, but he absolutely loves everything to do with the gardening world too.”
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