Shepperton did well at the recent Spelthorne in Bloom awards at the Orangery, Shepperton Studios. The evening was presented by Nick Wood-Dow, chairman of SiB with a welcome address by Peter Hicks of Shepperton Studios. The event was the 28th in the show’s history. It has helped create a more colourful place. Flowers always make you feel good and embellishing the borough is clearly so important to the committee and the participants.
John Davis of Hamhaugh Island started the evening well. The awards had only just got off to a start when he won “Best New Entrant”. He was unfortunately not there to receive his award. That really was a great shame because he would have had additional exercise getting up and sitting down as he also won the “Best Riverside Garden” category later in the evening. His award was collected by non other than Cllr Vivienne Leighton, Mayor of Spelthorne, who is a fellow resident of Hamhaugh Island and who would hand deliver his award.
Barbara Barnard from Thames Meadow, Shepperton, a previous winner of “Best Riverside Garden” had to make do with a second this year, but congratulations on keeping up the good work.
Congratulations to Lesley and Colin Brummit of Abbey Drive, Laleham, who collected the award for “Best Kept Front Garden”.
Shepperton continued to show that it is bloomin’ wonderful in the way of gardens and horticulture: The Three Horseshoes collected a second prize in the category of “Best Kept Small Pub” and Keith and Carole Gardiner of Lindsay Drive won second in the category “Best Hanging Basket”.
It was noted that there were many schools entering so the committee calls for more.
Congratulations to all. Thanks also to the fabulous Spelthorne in Bloom committee, without whom the borough would be all the poorer. Their work in making Spelthorne Bloom is tireless throughout the year. Well done to all.
In summing up, Mayor Vivienne Leighton admitted to not being a keen gardener herself, but drew attention to the benefits it offers in terms of exercise, feel good factor and of course the community spirit it engenders.