THE COLNE Town Council 2016 Allotment Awards were held on Tuesday evening, with last year’s winner once again taking the top prize and trophy. The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle, Cllr. and Mrs. David Whalley, were in attendance at the event, which was held in the Town Hall’s Council Chamber.
Cllr. Jonathan Nixon, Chairman of the Allotment Committee, said: “It was a great night and a celebration of all the hard graft that goes on in our allotments. Over the past 18 months, we have embarked on an ambitious capital improvement programme across many of our sites and Mark Ruddy, our Allotment Officer, is letting allotments to new tenants almost every week, so our Colne Allotment Community is growing. Many thanks to our sponsor LBS and Anne Wolfenden, our judges, Dianne Mason, Gladys Pollard and John Gott and the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle.
“It is hoped next year’s awards will be bigger and better, and we would actively encourage everybody to take part – the more the merrier. Congratulations to all our prizewinners and Roll On the 2017 Season!”
In the hotly contested Best Allotment category, the winner was John Lannon, with Steve and Julia Grant coming second and Barrie Rainbow coming third.
The winner of the Best Pensioner Category was Joyce Allen.
In the Most Productive Category, the winner was Barrie Rainbow, second was Tulip and third was Ben Hewson.
In the Best Newcomer Category, joint first place was shared between The Open Gate Project and Joyce Allen, with Neil Sanderson coming third.
The next Colne Town Council town centre event is on 29th October which will have a Hallowe’en theme. On 12th November, there will be an exhibition in the Town Hall on the two Colne Commemorates Events before the town gathers for Remembrance at the War Memorial the following day. The Christmas Event and Food Festival is to be staged on 26th November.