Gardeners’ delight
Reporter: by Richard Hooton
Date published: 05 November 2010
Photo: Pictures courtesy of New Image
SMELLING of roses . . . overall winner prizes are presented, from left, by Clive Newton, managing director of main sponsor Emmanuel Whittaker, to first place Gloria Khan, second place Jackie Shaw, and third place Patricia Cooper.
Gardeners who have left the borough looking blooming great were honoured in a glittering award ceremony.
Celebrity gardener Joe Swift attended the event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall to present prizes to residents who entered the Best Private Garden competition.
His visit helped celebrate Oldham’s success at North West in Bloom where Oldham’s Bloom and Grow campaign scooped the Best City award — the category was based on population.
The new residents’ contest, which will now become an annual event, is an expanded version of the gardens and allotments competitions which have been run by the council and later First Choice Homes since 1938.
Mr Swift, who presents BBC show “Gardeners World”, agreed to boost local interest in gardening by writing a weekly blog at the Visit Oldham website.
He was joined at the awards evening by Oldham’s Mayor and Mayoress and council and housing chiefs.
Guests enjoyed music from a string quartet and a supper before awards were handed out. Judges said the standard of entries was very high and a credit to all.
The overall winner was Gloria Khan, of Arden Street, Chadderton, with Jackie Shaw and Erin Murphy of Longfellow Crescent, Sholver, in second place and Patricia Cooper, of Bamford Street, Royton, in third. The Oldham Chronicle Cup, for the best allotment in the borough, went to Michael and Mary Fyson of Broadway Allotments. Pat Moran of Stotts Lane Allotments took second and James Dyson of Fernhurst Allotments took third.
n Full results and more pictures in Monday’s Evening Chronicle.
