Following his retirement on 30 November 1976 he continued to work, both at the museum and at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, where his home at 17 High Park Road, Kew Gardens, Richmond (see image), gave him access to the herbarium and library, a short bicycle trip away.[8] Indeed, 35 percent of his total publications appeared in the quarter century of his retirement.[47] He was commissioned to write a history of the museum for its centenary (1981),[48] although he did so with some difficulty, due to deadlines and budget constraints.[49] The task, which took three years, was made more difficult for him by the museum's decision to censor his critical comments.[23] He continued his association with the Lindley Library all his life, being an active committee member[9] and regularly attended RHS flower shows even after he was barely able to walk.[5]