LIPHOOK In Bloom’s presentation evening paid tribute to all participants, volunteers and helpers while sending out an urgent appeal for younger people with fresh ideas and enthusiasm to join the team.

The new recruits are needed to ensure floral displays around the village continue to provide pleasure for the community for many years to come.

Chairman Irene Ellis addressed the future of the voluntary organisation, which will have been going for 20 years in 2017.

“The time has come for the core team members to think about retiring as many of us have been part of Liphook In Bloom for the last 18 years”, she said.

“When it started we were all fit young men and women with lots of energy and enthusiasm. Obviously we can’t just stop, so we need to plan ahead.

“We are planning to hang up our forks and spades at the end of 2017, after we have made one final grand design in the beds around the village to celebrate 20 years of Liphook in Bloom.

“Now we are looking for a new team consisting of people who would love to have a go at designing the beds, buying plants and plant them at the right time, as well as some people to take on paperwork and organise work parties.”

Irene warned that if a new team could not be found, the village might end up without any flowering beds and hanging baskets in the near future.

“We are holding a brain-storming evening on Tuesday, November 10, in the Canada Room at the Millennium Centre, starting at 7.30pm, and invite anyone interested to come along and talk to our core members about keeping Liphook In Bloom going.”

Over the years the team has won three Gold Awards with South and South East in Bloom and a Silver Gilt award in Britain in Bloom.

The president’s address, delivered by Terry Burn’s daughter Melanie, thanked sponsors and friends as well as Patrina Johnson and Miranda Rowe, whose plant knowledge and design flair has delivered exceptional floral schemes for all the beds around the village over the years.

Stalwart Paul Johnson, together with Mrs Ellis, led the presentation of prizes to the winners of this summer’s competition which also featured a film by Jan Roles, showing the team in action throughout the year.

Jan, a key member since 1997, has documented In Bloom’s activities for many years, and announced her immediate retirement, while being presented with the chairman’s trophy. She is also a past member of the carnival committee, Liphook Voluntary Care, helps with the U3A Computer Group, and was instrumental in setting up a carers group

Winners:

Children’s competition

Best Overall Planted Garden in a container: Scarlet Shackleton, Liphook Infant School.

Best Shop Window: Route 6 Hairdressers, Haslemere Road.

Best Newcomer and Best Sustained Effort: Gordon & Sally Clarke.

Best Overall winner: Peter & Diane Renouf (also first prize for Best Residential Back Garden).

Best Residential Front Garden: Lee Mackenzie.

Best Residential Container/Hanging Baskets: Ian Barrett.

Most Unusual Container/Display: Lynne Williamson.

Best Residential Community Involvement: Shipley Court.

Best Floral Decoration Retail: General Wine Company.

Best Floral Decoration for Public Houses and Clubs: The Links Tavern.

Best School Grounds and Floral Beds: Little Cherubs Nursery.