David J.C.Austin, chairman of the internationally recognised David Austin Roses company, has died at the age of 67 after suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and fatal neurological disorder associated with abnormal prion proteins.Austin died at his home in Shropshire, leaving behind a significant legacy in horticulture and rose breeding.He joined the family business in 1990 alongside his father, renowned rose breeder David C.H.Austin, and spent more than three decades expanding the company into a globally respected brand.

Earlier in 2026, he entered semi-retirement and transferred day-to-day leadership to his three children, representing the third generation of the family business.

Tributes poured in from across the gardening world, with Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don praising Austin's enduring contribution through the millions of roses cultivated under his leadership.

The Royal Horticultural Society, the National Trust, broadcaster Zoe Ball and influencer Lydia Millen also expressed their condolences, recognising both his personal kindness and his lasting impact on gardens throughout the UK and beyond.Austin's family described him as a humble, devoted gardener who always prioritised the business, its employees and the quality of its roses.The article also explains that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, rapidly progressive brain disorder for which there is currently no cure.

Symptoms include memory loss, personality changes, impaired coordination and movement disorders, with most patients dying within a year of symptoms developing.