Times were tough for gardeners on big estates in the past. While their lords and masters lived grand houses, people like Arthur Hooper had primitive lifestyles.

Arthur, who is now 92, has written a book about life in huts known as bothies. There was often no electricity or running water. Lumps of wood were used as furniture and the gardeners worked all day every day of the year.

Arthur, who now lives in the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society's retirement home in Henfield, wanted to let people know what it was like.

Despite all the privations, he really believes those were the good old days. But as a gardener, he's looking at them through rose-tinted glasses.