A DRIVING force behind Sidmouth’s floral features for the last four decades has been named Sidmouth’s Citizen of the Year.

Joy Seward, 78, described being awarded the Rotary Club of Sidmouth honour as “unbelievable”.

Great grandmother Joy, who retired from her Sidmouth in Bloom duties after 40 years in November, told the Herald: “I never expected anything like this. You just do things because you’re passionate about doing them and love the town you live in. It was an utter surprise, words fail me.”

Citizen of the Year organiser, Arthur Passey, revealed Joy mistook him for a charity collector when he called by her Knowle Drive home to deliver the good news.

Joy thanked all those who put her name forward for the accolade and said; “It means that they support what we have done over the years.

“I have been s lucky to have had so much support.”

She praised the small, hard-working, bloom committee who all also stood down last year.

Joy added: “I can never thank them enough.

“It’s been a great pleasure for me to have been involved with Britain in Bloom for these last 40 years. I always marvel how such beautiful flowers can come from such tiny seeds and bulbs every year. Nature is such a wonderful thing.

Comments the Rotary club received about Joy lauded her “tireless” work over the years and praised the former bloom committee’s award-winning achievements.