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Blooming wonderful!

Winning Gardeners

The Mayor of Durham, Councillor Bob Wynn, presents Mr and Mrs McKeown with a plaque and cash prize

The residents of Elizabeth Court in Pittington have been awarded the winning prize for the ‘Best Sheltered Accommodation' in the prestigious Durham in Bloom Awards. Eddie and Ethel McKeown attended the awards ceremony on behalf of the residents of Elizabeth Court in Durham's Gala Theatre on 5th October.

Mr McKeown (77), said, “We had no idea that we had won anything and we got the shock of our lives when they made the announcement”. The Mayor of Durham, Councillor Bob Wynn, presented Mr and Mrs McKeown with a plaque and £40 cash prize. The residents decided to spend the prize money on more planting at Elizabeth Court and Eddie and Ethel bought some rose and laburnum bushes, which Eddie planted in two beds that he dug out in beside the lawned area to the front of the Court.

Eddie said, “We all enjoy this open area and everyone has a go at the garden maintenance. It's a great way to keep in touch with each other. We all have a bit talk while we potter around the garden. It's an important contribution to our community spirit”.

Elizabeth Court has a good reputation for gardening, especially for pot planting with some noteable past winners of the DAMHA Pot Plant Competition.

Jack Rudd in his prize-winning garden

Jack Rudd, 86, from Hillcrest, Crook, has won first prize in the Crook in Bloom competition for his front garden.

Jack, who names his flowers after famous film stars, was presented with a trophy at an awards ceremony at St Catherine's Community Centre, in Crook on 9th August.

The judges praised the quality of his hydrangeas and the variety of his containers and bedding plants.

In a recent interview, Mr Rudd said, “ I am really pleased to have won because I didn't expect to.

“I have been a garden-lover all of my life and just think it is a marvellous thing to see how a beautiful flower develops.

“My favourite flowers are roses, and I even name some of them after film stars like Doris Day, so you could say I get quite attached to them.”