Friends of Phyllis Baxter Group write for the Herald In collaboration With Keith Spittlehouse, Brian Nelson & John Maybery.
When we all were looking forward to the Britain in Bloom improvements for 2022, with great sadness we received the news that a number of the existing Ottery in Bloom team had decided to resign.
We thought a little bit of history would help to highlight the efforts of those who said Ottery 'doesn’t believe in standing still' and despite the setbacks from the weather and Covid-19, picked up a silver award for Ottery at the Britain in Bloom presentations in 2021.
In around 1996 the group finished up with just Roy Wright, the pharmacist in Ottery Square, and Roger Giles when the then chairman, Paul Williams moved on.
The President at the time was Oliver William-Powlett. A new President was never appointed when Oliver died.
In the 1990’s the town entered Britain in Bloom and won a cup for the best small town in South West. The town also entered in 2001 and 2010.
Keith Spittlehouse joined Ottery in Bloom in 2004 when the team, led by Sarah Clarke from Riverside Motors and Joy Richardson held a plant sale at the Old Boys School and Keith happened to pass by.
He was co-opted on to the committee and became Secretary in 2006, adding treasurer to his portfolio when Roy Wright died in 2015.
Keith resigned as Secretary in 2017 but continued as treasurer and along with Brian Nelson and John Maybery upgraded the planting and displays in town, entering Britain in Bloom last year and becoming award winners.
Brian Nelson first got involved with Ottery in Bloom when he noticed plants in containers being grown in the garden of the old town council offices.
The next time he bumped into John Maybery he asked what the plants were for, John explained they were for OIB and the difficulty of growing the plug plants on to the planting out stage outside.
Having two greenhouses Brian volunteered to help John out, for several years John sourced the plug plants, and they would pot on at Brian’s house then grow on half and John the other half.
At that stage Brian wasn't on the committee. On the agreed date for planting out around the first Tuesday in June, the Guides, Brownies, and Rainbows met to help with the planting.
Brian would load his estate car several times, and they would meet on the forecourt of the Fire Station to distribute them.
It was only in January 2018 that Keith invited Brian to a committee meeting and shortly after he became chairman.
John Maybery got involved after he moved back into Ottery in 1998.
When John started he was contracted to cut the grass at St Saviour’s and he looked after the shrub bed there and cut the beech hedge.
He also planted up the troughs on Tipton Bridge for a couple of years on behalf of the TC. Plants in those days were sourced from Jacksons at Combe Raleigh.
When they downsized, they let OIB know Ball Colegrave was their supplier which OIB continued with.
So it’s fair to say that John has been around for a good 20 years.
We wish good luck to the new team. Who knows, perhaps the more intensive long term steps towards creating an opportunity for more varied and diverse planting including edible planting options, will encourage us to consider healthier eating habits.
In the meantime our gratitude goes to Keith, Brian, John, all the OIB volunteers, Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs, the Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, Ottery Garden Centre and many others that for so many years gave their time to Ottery in Bloom.
Wishing them the best for the future on the knowledge that Ottery will always be grateful for the happiness and beauty they brought to this town.
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