George and Gillie Wilkinson step down from Newark In Bloom committee after ten years

A COUPLE who have been involved in a committee that aims to make Newark a more colourful and attractive place for nearly ten years, are to step down.

George and Gillie Wilkinson will step down from the Newark In Bloom committee next month from their roles as chairman and secretary.

They first got involved when the late councillor Marika Tribe asked them to form a committee to take the town into Britain In Bloom, with the aim of getting gold.

Since then, Newark In Bloom has gone from bronze to gold, which they achieved for a second time last year.

George said that it was time for them to step down and let some younger blood take over.

“I will be 81 this year and Gillie will be 72 ­— it needs fresh ideas and a fresh approach,” he said.

“Newark Town Council has increased the number of street planters year on year ­— 22 at the last count ­— and they were the first town in the country to have five tiered planters, starting with two and now having six, plus troughs on the town bridge.

“Plans are afoot for at least one new much-needed hotel and Newark needs to shout out ‘come and visit us.’

There is a limit to the amount of money the town council can allocate, but there is nothing stopping businesses sponsoring a bed in one of the parks, a traffic island or one of the many planters.”

George and Gillie may be stepping down from Newark in Bloom but they will continue gardening.

George said: “I am not hanging up my gardening gloves yet. We have moved house and I have downsized my greenhouse.

“We have an allotment with a fruit cage and are putting up a small polytunnel and I am helping Gillie with Eton Avenue Growers who will still be entering the It’s Your Neighbourhood part of Britain In Bloom.”

Newark In Bloom’s annual meeting will take place at 6pm on February 11 in the town hall, where the new chairman and officers will be elected. The meeting is open to all Newark residents.

George said: “You don’t have to be an officer ­— just an offer to weed and litter-pick a small area is enough.

“There are teams of litter pickers all over the town quietly getting on with it. We need more of them. We need groups like the Scouts and Guides to get involved, we already have church groups and, of course, our guerrilla gardeners who not only weed but also scrub paving and graffiti.

“Schools can get involved. Holy Trinity Academy were only one mark behind the overall school winner last year and have won the best school wildlife garden twice and last year the best school ornamental garden.”