Kellie Plants Commemorative Mayor Roses

The Sensory Garden at Mill Meadows gained some special new greenery on Wednesday. To mark the end of her year as Mayor of Henley, Councillor Kellie Hinton planted two Mayor Roses with the help of Councillor David Eggleton and the Parks Team.

Beneath stunning blue skies, Councillors Hinton and Eggleton shared a chuckle as buried the roses. The Mayor Rose bushes will grow to around 80cm, and give bloom to beautiful pink and gold flowers. Originally named after the Mayor of Knutsford, the roses seemed the perfect choice for Councillor Hinton’s commemorative addition to the garden. “I wanted to donate to our outside area because that’s my favourite thing about being a councillor,” she explained. “It’s lovely to leave something in the Mayor’s Parlour but it’s a locked room. I wanted to do something outdoors for everyone.” She continued, “Roses are my favourite flower. It seemed so apt as I’m Chair of Henley in Bloom, and it’s a Mayor Rose.”

Beyond her duties as Mayor of Henley, Kellie has also spent the past year as Chair of Henley in Bloom. Less than a week remains until she passes on the baton, with Councillor Hinton due to step down as Mayor on 14 May. As she left her floral signature on the Sensory Garden, Kellie related, “Every time I walk past, I’ll be able to remember my year as Chair of Henley in Bloom and Mayor of Henley fondly.” Despite the challenges that her role has entailed, it seems that Kellie will reflect on her time as Mayor, primarily, as a happy one. After all, as they say — there is no rose without a thorn.