ROUND & ABOUT

Wellesbourne in Bloom

Strikes gold again

On the 16th September two committee members Kate Parton and Di Ives went to the Annual “Heart of England in Bloom Awards” in Newcastle under Lyne. As we did so well last year with a gold and myself winning the “Chairman's Award” our expectations were that having done well last year it would be hard or nigh impossible to top it.

Before the category prizes are given out there are special one off awards. Kate and Di were sitting there when it was announced that we had won “The Environmental Award”. A detailed description of the “St Peter's Church Project” was given to the audience of other “Heart of England in Bloom” participants. Two very shocked ladies had to negotiate the stairs in emotional turmoil to accept the award and have their photo taken. They had only just got over the shock when they had to negotiate the stairs again to accept the “Gold Award”.

None of this could have happened without the tireless help that we receive from the community. Julie and Amanda from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust have helped us develop the plans for the church and helped in finding funding. In the village at 8pm the night before the judging day the gardener at the Co-op was cutting the grass. So many people pulled together to help us, the Youth and Community Centre tidied around the car park and Youth Centre, the Highways Dept helped us, John Dobson made sure the village centre was in tip top condition as he always does, so many people helped us the list would be endless. We just want to say thank you to everyone and want them to know how much we appreciate their help.

On judging day we were very fortunate to be joined in the village hall for our judge's exhibition by Wellesbourne Parish Plan, Chedham's Yard, the Police, Orbit Heart of England Housing Association, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Walton Hall Barceló Hotel and the Lions. The judges were very impressed at the community participation. They were also impressed by the pupils at the school's “Gardening Club” and there impressive crops all grown by their own fair hands.

A big thank you must also go to all the people who have donated goods for our projects especially Citadel Polytunnels, EFG Expo Flora, Michael Twite Landscapes who continues to be a huge support for us donating plants and clearing all the green rubbish from the church yard “Tidy ups” for us and lastly the local farmers who helped with the school project.

We will be very busy with the “St Peter's Church Wildlife Project” this coming year and would love to hear from anyone who would like to help as there will be plenty of work to do. I can be contacted on 07515 951013. Once again thanks to all those kind “Blooming” helpers we appreciate every one of you. Thank you

Heather Sims, Chairman, Wellesbourne in Bloom

Guide Dogs

Thank you to everyone who supported our bucket collection held, by kind permission of Mr McGrath, at our Co-op store, also to everyone who came to our Coffee Morning in the Church Centre: lots of familiar faces and we hope you enjoyed meeting the various dogs.

We have Christmas cards on sale at the hairdressers in The Precinct and knitted snowmen & Father Christmas at Christine Baker's shop and also the Chemist; again we are grateful to them for their continued support.

Guide dogs are appealing to anyone who may consider having one of their brood bitches to live at home as part of a family unit. Brood bitches whelp once a year on average and full support is given by the supervisors at Tollgate Centre and all veterinary costs are covered by the charity.

If anyone would like further information please contact Eileen on 841011 or Judith on 841062.

SHIPSTON

Home Nursing

Rebecca now has the lovely new Brailes and Hampton Lucy Xmas Cards by Betty Holden as well as the ones from last year, which include Tredington, Whichford, Ilm­ington, Great Wolford, Cherington, Toden­ham and Shipston-on-Stour, also Long Compton church and Jenny Wilson's new notelets. These are available in local shops or via Rebecca Mawle on 01608 674929 or rebecca@shn-fundraising.co.uk .

MACMILLAN

Cancer Support

A big thank you to all who supported the World's Biggest Coffee Morning at the Methodist Church. We raised the fantastic amount of £457.00. A big thank you also to all our helpers on the day without whom we would be unable to run events such as these.

If anybody is interested in joining our small committee please contact either Sue Kyrke on 01789 841083 or Margaret Clabon on 01789 840756.

WI Flowers

After the October meeting of the Wellesbourne Women's Institute members will probably abandon for ever any thought they may have had of simply popping a bunch of flowers into a vase and thinking that would make a nice table decoration.

Jill Hawtin, proprietor of the Flower Shop in Kineton, has for ten years made flower arrangements for all occasions, happy and sad. She is passionate about flowers and very knowledgeable about them, believing that they can be used to convey emotions, ideas and events.

Starting her demonstration with an arrangement for a table at a wedding reception, Jill said that she and her staff have dealt with sixty-five weddings so far this year, six of them in three days. She starts work as early as 4.00am in such cases and indeed is accustomed to such an early start, often setting off at that time to buy the flowers she needs. Flowers are imported from all over the world: the roses in Jill's first arrangement and the lilies in her second came from Africa where the Dutch have organized growers who sell to the UK via auction houses in Holland.

The third and final arrangement Jill dedicated to the happenings of the particular day of the meeting. It was a beautiful tribute to the rescued miners in Chile who were just coming to the surface and it brought great applause.

Jill was thanked for showing such lovely examples of her expertise and for the advice she gave as she worked. She very kindly donated the arrangements to be raffled and three lucky ladies left with a beautiful trophy each.