Kingsbridge In Bloom wins Queen's award AND Champion of Champions

Kingsbridge has been called a “shining example of what a group of really committed volunteers can do” as Kingsbridge In Bloom were presented with a Queen's award. 

The Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Lady Arran the Countess of Arran, made the comments as she presented the volunteers of Kingsbridge In Bloom with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at the Cookworthy Museum Gardens. 

Lady Arran said: “Between the 32 volunteers you have put in 5,000 hours of voluntary work and the pleasure that your endeavour has given to everyone living in the town and the many, many people who come and visit here, especially in the tourist season. 

“It must give your businesses such a big boost too because people want to come and see a lovely town.”

Speaking about the Covid pandemic, Lady Arran continued: “Out of all the sadness of the last two years, to have achieved this and to have given everyone hope and enjoyment...it is what community life is really about, looking after each other.”

Graham Price, chair of Kingsbridge In Bloom, which has also just received a Royal Horticultural Society gold medal from South West in Bloom in the Champion of Champions category has been named class winner, said the award “makes us very proud”. 

He said: “Our planting and horticultural achievement in addressing climate change has been very well recognised both regionally and nationally. 

“2022 is going to be a special year for Her Majesty and we can announce that our proposed planting scheme is going to be red, white and blue to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. 

Lady Arran presented the award to Graham, calling volunteers the “unsung heroes of this country”. 

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 for Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee and is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.

Photo: Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Lady Arran the Countess of Arran, presents the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to Kingsbridge In Bloom chair Graham Price.