Yet Carol Lovatt says holding fruit on the tree makes alternate bearing worse.

VOA: special.2009.11.10

Carol Lovatt is at the University of California,Riverside.

VOA: special.2009.11.10

Sgt Stephen Lovatt read Death Is Nothing At All, Insp Jane Brown read Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled and Sgt Gordon Swan read Feel No Guilt In Laughter.

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Mr Lovatt, who has a diploma from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is also a graduate of botany from London University, is a former assistant curator of the Eden Project in Cornwall.

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"In the current difficult economic environment, these results are a tangible sign of the benefit of the flexibility afforded by the Scottish Friendly group and the strength of our diversify and grow strategy, " added Mr Lovatt.

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