Henley Prize Winning Gardens and Allotments
The hard work of Henley residents and businesses in their gardens and allotments were awarded with prizes this week at the Henley in Bloom and Allotment Association Awards ceremony on Tuesday at the Town Hall. Chair of Henley in Bloom, Councillor Kellie Hinton hosted the awards and was joined by sponsors; Southern Plant and Tool Hire, Hotel du Vin and Vince Hill to present the awards. For the first time this year, Michaela Clarke of the Henley Herald was invited to help judge the back gardens and was invited to the present the awards for these. She said, “I was bowled over by the fantastic back gardens we discovered. The judges were all in awe of the hard work that the residents had put in, into creating their beautiful gardens.”
The overall winner was Dave and Karen Thatcher who entered for the first time this year and live in Gainsborough Crescent. Their back garden has a real ‘Wow’ factor and includes water features, grape vinees, fruit trees, baskets and pots as well as beautiful flower beds.
A new award the “Hodgkin Community Award” was announced by Vince Hill, unbeknown to Councillor Elizabeth Hodgkin who it was named after for her years of dedication and commitment to Henley in Bloom and the wider community. The first winner of this award was Viv Greenwood from West Street – she was described as an ‘Ambassador’ for the town, she’s involved in many areas and community groups including Henley in Transition, the Historical Society as well as being a Gardening Buddy.
The Gardening Buddy award which was sponsored by Hotel du Vin was presented to newcomer, Joan Edwards who has moved from Peterborough this year. Elizabeth Hodgkin said, “Joan never stops working, even when she’s out and about she’ll take out weeds or pick off dead heads.”
The Joint Henley in Bloom and Allotments Association Community Award was presented to Graham Jones of Gravel Hill. As well as entering his beautfiul back cottage garden, Graham owns an allotment and is part of the Association. Andrew Hawkins, Chair of the Allotments Association said, “We are really grateful to Graham this year for this involvment in the association and particuarly with the development of the association’s website.”
The Mayor, Councillor Martin Akeurst closed the ceremony by saying, “Henley in Bloom, the Allotment Association and Britain in Bloom are very close to my heart because they make an enormous difference to the town. They get people to focus on the town and notice what needs doing in the town. It makes an enormous difference and I really am grateful to all of you.”
The full list of the awards is listed below.
Restaurants in Bloom
Winner – Spice Merchant on Riverside
Runner-Up – Villa Marina on ThamesideHighly Commended – Regal Cinema Cafe
Pubs in Bloom
Winner – The Three Horseshoes
Runners-Up – The Angel on the Bridge and The Saracen’s Head
3rd Place – Rowbarge
Highly Commended – The Victoria
Front Gardens -Patios
Gold – Caroline Chisholm, Vicarage Road
Silver Gilt – Viv Greenwood
Silvert Gilt – Chris and Ann Eggleton, Gainsborough Crescent
Front Gardens – Baskets/Containers
Winner – Mr Chipp, Reading Road
Gold – Nicola Eggleton, Gainsborough Road
Gold – Dave and Karen Thatcher, Gainsborough Crescent
Front Gardens – Lawns
Silver Gilt – Mrs Silvey, Vicarage Road
Silver Gilt – Heather Durrant, Gainsborough Road
Back Gardens
Joint Winners – Dave and Karen Thatcher, Gainsborough Crescent and Mr Peter Bonnage, Crisp Road
Gold – Chris and Ann Eggleton, Gainsborough Crescent
Gold – Heather Durrant, Gainsborough Road
Gold – Caroline Chisholm, Vicarage Road
Silver Gilt – Graham Jones, Gravel HillSilver Gilt – Mr and Mrs Ward, Newton Gardens
Community Gardens – Maintained by Volunteers
Silver Gilt – Mr Chipp, Reading Road
Community Gardens – Professionally Maintained
Silver Gilt – Martin Curtis at Bowling Court
Silver Gilt – David Tapp at War Memorial Place
Theme – Pollinators
Winner – Caroline Chisholm, Vicarage Road
Overall Winner
Winner – Dave and Karen Thatcher, Gainsborough Crescent
Runner-Up – Chris and Ann Eggleton, Gainsborough Crescent
New Award – Hodgkin Community Award
Viv Greenwood of West Street
Garden Buddy of the Year
Joan Edwards
Allotment Association Awards
Waterman’s
Best – Mick Blackall
Best Newcomer – Tracey White
Greencoft
Best – Heidi Whitelock
Best Newcomer – Laura Dance
Henley in Bloom and Allotment Association Joint Community Award
Graham Jones of Gravel Hill
