Sidmouth in Bloom stops bronze awards for local floral contest

SIDMOUTH is looking blooming lovely in its 40th year with Sidmouth in Bloom organising displays.

But, says the group’s president, Joy Seward, many shops have not entered the local Bloom awards this year, with fewer staging floral displays.

“I sent out 40 letters asking them to put flowers out for our special year,” said Joy. “I am disappointed not many shops entered.”

Mark Pollard, East Devon District Council’s parks development officer and his deputy Mike Vine judged hotels and guest houses, while Christine Horth, a former Bicton College lecturer, judged the biodiversity entries.

Caroline Carroll, a former Sidmouth in Bloom member, judged some of the garden entries.

“In the other categories our entries were really very high,” said Joy, who said this year the committee decided not to award bronze certificates.

In former years nearly 200 certificates have been printed and hand-written for bronze winners and many have not attended the autumn awards evening at Knowle.

“We have to take them around to deliver them and so we have decided not to have bronze to save money,” Joy said.

Hotels with large frontage: Royal York & Faulkner (gold and cup); Kingswood/Devoran (gold); Riviera (silver). Hotels medium frontage: Elizabeth (gold and cup) – Dukes (silver gilt). Hotels with large gardens: Belmont Gold (cup); Victoria (gold); Westcliff (silver gilt). Hotels with medium gardens: Mount Pleasant (gold and cup); Hunters Moon (silver gilt; Woodlands (silver). Guest house with small frontage: Berwick (gold and cup); Southcombe (gold); all the following silver gilt – Glen Devon, Cheriton, Bramley Lodge, Lynstead and Canterbury; Hollies (silver). Guest houses with small gardens: Old Farm House (gold and cup); Willow Bridge (silver). Self-catering complex: Littlecourt Cottages (gold and cup).

Retirement/nursing homes: Malden House (gold and cup); Holmesley (gold); Radway Nursing Home (gold).

Large gardens: Mrs Wood (gold and cup); Peter Atkinson (gold). Medium gardens: Mr C Ratcliffe Gold (cup); Mrs N Grigg (gold); Mrs Barber (gold); Mrs Talbot (gold); Mrs A Skinner (silver gilt). Small gardens: Mr Frank Leach (gold and cup); all the following received gold as well – Stephen Beech, Beryl Dray, Mr D Wilson, Mrs J Stevens, Mr W Cotgrave, Mr G Woodhams; Mrs Inman (silver gilt). Small town gardens: Mrs D D’Albertsan (gold and cup); Mrs L Tate (silver gilt); Mrs S Randall (silver gilt); Mr H Deary (silver gilt). Biodiversity: Dr & Mrs Ridler (gold and cup; Mr Vosper (silver gilt). Neighbourhood effort: The Croquet Club Gold (cup); Ebdon Court (gold); SVA Livonia Road (gold); Temple Gardens (silver gilt).

Large shop frontage: Fields (gold and cup); Waitrose (gold). Medium shop frontage: Potburys Gold (cup); Pure Indulgence (gold). Small frontage: Haymans Church Street Gol.d (cup); Hair Studio (gold); 4 Homes Ltd (gold); Haymans Woolbrook (gold). Commercial buildings: War Memorial Club (gold and cup); Potburys Funeral (gold); Mitchelmores Solicitors (gold); Dental Surgery vicarage Road (silver gilt); STC Woolcoombe House (silver gilt).

Pubs/restaurants - Pub frontage only: Radway (gold and cup); Black Horse (gold); Anchor Inn (silver gilt); Marine (silver gilt). Pub with gardens: Blue Ball (gold and cup); The Swan (silver gilt); The Bowd (silver gilt). Restaurants: Mocha Gold (cup); Osbornes (gold); Baraza (silver).

Littlecourt cottages under Self Catering Complex,

Schools: Sidbury (gold and cup); Sidmouth Infants (gold); Sidmouth College (gold); St Nicks (gold); All Saints (gold); St John’s (silver gilt). Churches: St Peter’s Sidford (gold and cup); All Saints (gold); United Reformed, Church Street (gold); Methodist, High Street (silver gilt).

Garages: Sidmouth Garage, Vicarage Road (gold and cup).