It's blooming lovely!

Chairman Sandra Melvin was so delighted that she rang the Observer on her mobile as Town Mayor Cllr Stuart Earl drove her and Rother parks officer Brian Griffith home from the Assembly Hall at Tunbridge Wells last Thursday afternoon.

South East in Bloom judges visited Bexhill twice this year, once to study the town in general and once for a look at Rother's Broadoak Park for the environmental category.

The town visit came immediately after Bexhill had been battered by one of the once June gales in memory. The judges were particularly impressed by the way local businesses and private gardeners had coped with Bexhill's salt-laden sea winds and had planted appropriately.

In total, the awards consisted of three Bronze, 27 Silver, 13 Silver Gilt and two Gold, which were all presented by Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew.

Bexhill entered the category of Large Town, Small City with a population of over 35,000, and took a Silver Award. Ahead of Bexhill were Royal Tunbridge Wells with a Silver Gilt, Guildford with a Gold and the winner of the category '“ Horsham with a Gold.

Bexhill also picked up a Bronze Award for Broadoak Park and environmental centre for its entry in entered in the Duncan Goodhew Parks Award. The winner in this category, again being Horsham Park which collected a Silver Gilt.

The awards are currently on display in the Bexhill Observer window and will also be displayed at this evening's Bexhill In Bloom prizegiving at St Augustine's Church Hall (5.15pm).

The evening will consist of the prizes for Bexhill in Bloom sponsored by Wyevale Garden Centre; the paint-a-plate competition, prizes sponsored by Leisure Together; the awards for South East in Bloom, as well as prizes for the Best Geraniums, distributed at the launch in March, sponsored by Rother contractors John O'Conners.

Picture: Flashback to the Bexhill judging. H28038b.