Ross-in-Bloom ROSS-IN-BLOOM have held their Annual Presentation Evening at the Phoenix Theatre. As usual it was an evening full of awards - some which were previously known - some which were surprises.

The Chairman of Ross-in-Bloom, Margaret Lucas, together with Alison Stephenson of Ross Garden Store, presented the awards throughout the evening. Ross Garden Store has been a major sponsor for Ross-in-Bloom this year and it was nice that Alison could come along to see the final results of the Garden Store’s generosity this year.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Jo Ashman Award for Community Spirit. This award is presented every year to someone who has made an impact on the community whilst also working with Ross-in-Bloom.

This year it was the turn of Anne Gray to receive the award. As Margaret said after presenting her with the award, “Ann might not have been born here but she has certainly made her mark on the town. She and her husband, Colin, work in many aspects of Ross life - with all ages of the community. Anne does so much for the town that is unrecognised it is nice to be able to show our appreciation to her in this way this year”.

The rest of the evening had been taken up with presenting cups and shields, certificates and gifts to many people who had worked with or for Ross-in-Bloom this year. Without their generosity, expertise and enthusiasm Ross would not have won Gold in the Heart of England in Bloom this year.

The Phoenix Theatre are always very generous in allowing Ross-in-Bloom to hold their event in the intimate atmosphere of their auditorium. Ross-in-Bloom is self-supporting for all events so a raffle was held to pay the costs of the hire of the theatre for the evening. Members of the theatre very generously gave their time to cover the bar and the health and safety aspects of using a place such as this.

During the evening Mary Sinclair Powell, who was compere for the night, announced the town colours for next summer will be gold, silver and bronze. Everyone had remarked how vibrant this year’s colours had been and the use again of these colours would be good for the town. Therefore the oranges and yellows can be used for gold and bronze with silver foliage etc being substituted for the red. There are also lots of plants available that have beautiful foliage that goes with this colour scheme.

Alan Wood of Wyenot.com has worked very hard for the town again this year and he was presented with a bottle and a financial donation towards the enormous costs incurred with running his website. Ross-in-Bloom is very grateful for all he has done this year towards their gold award and hoped that this would help in some small way towards being able to continue for the months to come.

Running Ross-in-Bloom has now become very expensive with rising costs of postage, stationery and fuel. Due to this Mary Sinclair Powell, who is the judging co-ordinator, announced there would no longer be shortlisting of gardens etc for the foreseeable future. From next summer anyone who wishes to have their front gardens judged will have to apply in writing. Details of how to apply will appear in the local press at Easter time. The same number of competitions will be run but they will be reorganised slightly into this new format.

A very successful and generous raffle raised funds to pay for the expenses of the evening.

The awards that were presented on the night were Ross Gazette Shield for the Children’s Competition: Adam Middlecote; Junior Community Spirit Awards: Darcie Victor Trot, Amy King and Ellen Montgomery; Gold for Adopt a Boxes in the town: second Ross Guides and Ross Lions; Community Spirit Awards for Neighbourhood Involvement in Britain in Bloom: Ross Court, Garden of Remembrance, Goodrich Court, Tudorville Allotment and John Kyrle High School; Community Spirit Awards for Voluntary Support or Sponsorship included: Ann Bevan, Ann Davies, Trevor Pugsley, Margaret Heher, Angie Lukas, Debbie Wareing, Sue Parker, Sue Holland, Pauline Williams, Anne Wadeley, Val and Tony Allen, Peggy Luker, Maureen Tweed, Jan Layton, Teresa McCloskey, Royal Hotel, Ross Town Council, Phoenix Theatre, Ross Lions, Gordon Lucas, Ross Heritage Centre Staff, Designer Flowers, The Royal Hotel and Ross Garden Store.

There were other awards in this category, which have already been given out.

Front Garden Awards: Safeways Cub-4 Three Crosses Road; Round Table Cup-19 Orchid Close and 94 Verschoyle Gardens (joint); Premier Plants Cup-9 Morley Square; Pauline di Palma Cup-18 Berkeley Close and 54 Court Road; Jacqui Danter Cup-11 North Road; Golf Club Cup-28 Blake Avenue; Hotel and Caterers Cup-50 Purland, 24 Tudor Rise and 21 Tudor Rise (joint); Midland Bank Cup-Lawrenny Cleeve Lane; Tealpack Cup-1 Lincoln Close and 11 Vectis Close (joint); Ross-in-Bloom Cup-4 Greytree Rise, Roma 5th Avenue and Kimberley 4th Avenue (joint); Shawcross Cup-Berwyn and White House Hildersley (joint); Margaret Lucas Cup-Roseanna Gloucester Road and 2A Henry Street (joint);The Wyevale Cup for the Best Overall Front Gardens went to Angie Lukas of Berwyn Hildersley; Lloyds Bank Shield for Best Commercial Premises: Broadmeadow Caravan Park; Barclays Bank Shield for Best Hotel, Inn or Restaurant: Chase Hotel; Mary Dew Spoon for Best Private Guest House: The White House; Mary Dew Shield for Best Retirement Community: Ross Court and Merton House (joint); Lyn Tomlinson Award for Best Retired Front Garden: Jan Layton, Goodrich Court, Phil Ward, Hawthorne Lane and Anne Wadeley, The Gresleys (joint); HE Phillips Award Best Street: Nursery Road; Mike and Maureen Jennings Award Best Secret Garden: King Charles II; Mary Powell Award Best Charity Shop Window: St Michael’s Hospice; Leadership Trust Award Best Traders Window: Lucy Gray; David Christopher Award for Conservation: Tudorville Allotments; the final presentations of bouquets of flowers were made to Alison Stephenson and Margaret Lucas. Margaret’s flowers were a thank you gift from everyone at Ross-in-Bloom although all agreed they had given her the ultimate gift of them all - a Gold Certificate from the Heart of England in Bloom. She has been a superb chairman this year and it is hoped she will be able to take us to a very successful campaign again in 2009. Anyone who was unable to attend will be receiving their certificate through the post shortly.

A full list of all of those who have received awards this year is in the Heritage Centre for reference.

If anyone would like to attend the Annual General Meeting details will be announced shortly. Details will also be announced of where anyone who wishes to help out in any way with Ross-in-Bloom next year can go for information. Anyone who wishes to contribute towards costs next year is advised to contact Mary Sinclair Powell at the Heritage Centre or Margaret Lucas at Lucas Motorcycles, where correspondence can also be left