Ramsey Town Commissioners’ lead member for parks and gardens Bill Hankin has praised the town’s gardeners for once again demonstrating ‘exceptional’ gardening talent.
Mr. Hankin was speaking at the 2017 Ramsey in Bloom awards presentation at Ramsey Town Hall, an occasion which, he said, provided an opportunity to celebrate the dedication and hard work of gardeners across all categories in a competition that offered a total of 27 cash prizes, together with an impressive array of silver trophies and shields.
New for 2017 were an under-16s children’s section, sponsored by Ramsey Garden Centre and a fruit and vegetable class, sponsored by Farmers Combine. Both new sections gave rise to some truly creative interpretations, said Mr. Hankin who served as the competition’s judge, together with guest judge June Nicholls and the Commission’s head gardener Bobby Cunningham.
Mr. Hankin continued: ‘The standard was very high across the board and it was a real pleasure to tour the town as a judge along with June and Bobby. With so many different categories, Ramsey in Bloom provides an opportunity for just about every type of gardener to take part. I commend all the entrants on their enthusiasm and skill and their community spirit. The tremendous efforts to which they go complement the work of the Commission’s parks team to make our town all the greener and more colourful.’
First-place winners in Ramsey in Bloom 2017 were:
Public Buildings Section: Mooragh View (Dalmeny House)
Commercial Premises – Small: Patricia Wild Opticians
Private Garden – Small: Mrs. L. Grugan
Private Garden – Large: Mrs. S. French
Little Gems: Mrs. Richards
Community Project: Bilbo’s Bru’s
Wildlife Garden: Barbara Simpkins
Special Prizes
The Ken Barnes Cup: John Sissons
The Anne Skinner Memorial Trophy: Janet Hughes
The Ann Martin Memorial Shield: Chris and Elly King
The Richard Radcliffe Cup: Jean Bairstow
The Ramsey Town Cup: Mrs. L. Grugan
The Beryl Quine Memorial Rose Bowl: Colin’s Barbers
Children’s Section: 3rd Ramsey Brownies
Fruit and Vegetable Section: Kerroo Glass
Winners Tour: Kerroo Glass
There were no entrants in the Commercial Premises (Large) Section this year. Traders in the town are encouraged to ‘get growing’ and enter next year’s competition.
John Green of Claughbane Drive was awarded a certificate of merit for his outstanding contribution and effort. Mr. Green is a long-standing entrant in the Ramsey in Bloom competition and has won several of the trophies and shields over the last 20 years. His garden is exceptional every year and it was even commented on by the judges of the R.H.S. Britain in Bloom competition in 2009 when the town was awarded silver gilt. The residents of Admirals Court were also awarded a silver gilt for community spirit.
Dates for the 2018 Ramsey in Bloom competition are:
Closing date for entries: Friday, June 29, 2018
Judging: Week commencing Monday July 9, 2018
Garden Tour: Sunday, July 15, 2018
Presentation: Thursday, August 9, 2018
Entry forms will be available at ramsey.gov.im, from enquiries@rtc.gov.im, Ramsey Town Hall or by telephoning 810100.
Photo - Ramsey Town Commissioners’ lead member for parks and gardens Bill Hankin, front row, with Ramsey in Bloom 2017 winners. Photo Andrew Barton.
