Oh, didn't they grow well? (From Penarth Times)

Oh, didn't they grow well?

RESIDENTS and local businesses have once again been praised for extremely high quality entries in this year's Vale in Bloom competition.

Organised annually by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, with sponsorship and support from the Barry and Penarth Town Councils, Boverton Nurseries and SET Office Equipment, this year's competition again featured local villages.

Thanking gardeners and flower growers for their enthusiastic support, Vale mayor, Cllr Emlyn Williams, who hosted a prizegiving function, said the efforts in Barry had enabled the town to take second spot in the large town category in the Wales in Bloom competition.

Cabinet Member (Visible Services) Cllr Geoffrey Cox commented: "This year's competition was another success story and we were delighted with the encouraging number of entries, including new faces, and extremely high standards."

Norah Bawn's prizewinning front garden at Brookfield Avenue, Barry, won the overall Vale prize for the second successive year, while there was a similar Vale and overall success in the commercial section for the Star Inn, Treoes.

In Barry, there was a new name, Edgar Adams, of Maes y Coed, in top spot in the disabled gardener category, with Susan and Anthony Hawkins, of Romilly Park Road, moving up a place to win the hanging basket category and Billy Ray Jones retaining his title in the children's category.

Elis Fisher Court (courtesy of William Jones) won the residential/sheltered accommodation category, while The Glenbrook Inn, second last year, triumphed in the commercial section.

In Penarth, Gerard Kingston, of Redlands Road, who was third last year, won front garden honours, while Kenneth Knapp, of Alberta Road, lifted the Robert and Joan Ernest Trophy for the best entry in the town's seafront conservation area.

Winners of last year's front garden category, Dennis and Ann Lush, of Tudor Close, took top honours in this year's hanging basket category. Louie Lloyd, of St David's Crescent, gained a third successive success in the children's category, and Huw Bousie, of Byrd Crescent, gained a second successive success as top disabled gardener.

In the Vale villages competition, June Studley, of Castle Lodge Farm, Llancarfan, third last year, won the front garden category and took second place overall.

Full results were as follows:

BARRY

Front garden: 1, Norah Bawn, 46 Brookfield Avenue; 2, Ray Clemo, 22 Pardoe Crescent; 3, Paula Westall and Peter Andrews, 28 Glanmor Crescent.

Hanging basket: 1, Susan and Anthony Hawkins, 73 Romilly Park Road; 2, Barrie and Mary Matthews, 13 Brookfield Avenue, Barry; 3, Mrs Anne Hogg, 2 Brecon Court.

Window Box: 1, Ray Clemo; 2, Alan T Cox, 8 Dudley Place; 3, Mrs Hogg.

Disabled Gardener: 1, Edgar Charles Adams, 18 Maes y Coed; 2, A T Cox; 3, Mrs Janet B Vaughan, 33 Warwick Way.

Children: 1, Billy Ray Jones, 55 St Paul's Avenue; 2, Hayden Donovan, 5 Lowdon Terrace.

Residential home/ sheltered accommodation: 1, Elis Fisher Court, Broad Street (William Jones).

Commercial: 1, The Glenbrook Inn, Dobbins Road (Arthur O'Leary).

PENARTH

Front garden: 1, Gerard Kingston, 40 Redlands Road; 2, Mrs Diana Mead, 77 Coleridge Avenue; 3, Colin Grandin, 36 Redlands Road. Robert and Joan Ernest Trophy (best entry in Penarth Seafront Conservation Area): Kenneth Knapp, "Raisdale Cottage," Alberta Road.

Hanging basket: 1, Dennis and Ann Lush, 4 Tudor Close; 2, Mrs Lesley Robinson, 3 Brangwyn Close; 3, Mrs Roz Smith, 4 Cawnpore Street.

Window Box: 1, Gordon P Thomas, 49 Sullivan Close; 2, Colin Grandin; 3, Miss Karen Thomas, 20 Sullivan Close.

Disabled gardener: 1, Huw Bousie, 67 Byrd Crescent. Children: 1, Louie Lloyd, 43 St David's Crescent.

Residential home/sheltered accommodation: 1, Gwyn James Court, Sundew Close (Mrs J Glass)

Commercial: 1, Cogan Nursery School, Cawnpore Street; 2, Bute Cottage Nursery, Bute Lane (Mrs C Hoffrock); 3, "Decks," Penarth Pier (Mrs Alison Richardson).

VILLAGES

Front garden: 1, June Studley, Castle Lodge Farm, Llancarfan; 2, John Rowe, 12 Heol yr Ysgol, St Bride's Major; 3, Janice Taylor, 75 Main Road, Ogmore by Sea.

Commercial: 1, Star Inn, Treoes (Clive and Patricia George); 2, Eagleswell School, Llantwit Major (Mrs Amanda Gould); 3, St Bride's Major Church in Wales School.

OVERALL (Vale in Bloom)

Front garden: Norah Bawn, 46 Brookfield Avenue, Barry.

Commercial: Star Inn, Treoes (Mr and Mrs George).

Residential Home: Gwyn James Court, Sundew Close, Penarth (Mrs J Glass).