After the formal awards ceremony in Taunton recently where Marlborough’s entries in the South West in Bloom competition scooped a pile of awards (see ‘More Blooming Success for Marlborough….‘ ), last night (18 October) at the Marlborough in Bloom AGM those awards were presented to the representatives of the successful teams and groups.
Mayor Cllr Noel Barrett-Morton was on hand to present the main awards whilst the ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ certificates were handed out by Grounds and Estates Manager for Marlborough Town Council, Richard Beale.
The main awards were the South West Tourism Association Cup and Silver Gilt award for the overall Marlborough in Bloom entry, but special mention must go to ‘The Lamb’ in The Parade, winner of the Shaun Creggan Cup, for having the best display for any pub across the whole of the South West region and Kennet Waterfront which was voted Joint Winner of the ‘London and Manchester Trophy for an Outstanding Environmental Initiative’, described by judge Tim Eley as “One of the best It’s Your Neighbourhood’s we have ever seen”.
A full list of the ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ awards can be seen here.
The chair, Anne Crawley summed up a successful year for Marlborough in Bloom in her annual report. Many more sponsors came on board, High Street shops embraced many ‘Bee themed’ displays, St Mary’s and St Peter’s schools held Marlborough in Bloom ‘Bee Art’ competitions, there were a dozen ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ entries, all of which resulted in a much more elaborate, wider and better funded entry for the town. Overall income increased to over £5,000 with the largest element being spent on plants and flowers to populate the many more baskets, window displays and planters that appeared across Marlborough.
“Next year we go for Gold” exclaimed Chair Anne Crawley as she ended her report into what had been a blooming good year for the Town.