In 1970 John attended Greenmount College to study horticulture and obtained a National Certificate in Horticulture with distinction.

In 1971 he developed a nursery on Casements Brae in Larne.

In the Mid-eighties the Garden Centre was too small, and a new site was needed.

In 1987 a new site was identified on the outskirts of Larne on a dual carriageway with good easy access. A purpose built Garden Centre was developed. Over the last 13 years John and his wife Norma have developed the Garden Centre into one of the top centres in Northern Ireland.

John continues to search constantly for New and Unusual Plants and Shrubs.

The Centre does not have a coffee shop or gift ware department, concentrating on the "Real Gardeners" give expert advice and unusual plants.

Inver Garden Centre has consistently been awarded Certificates of Excellence in the Northern Ireland Best Kept Garden Centre competition organised by the N.I. Department of Agriculture since its inception three years ago.

In the year 2000 we were awarded the Best Plant Quality Award and achieved a 4 Star rating - one of only three in Northern Ireland to achieve this!