Britain in Bloom

It was November 1999 and my Managing Director, Michael Portway, sat in his chair looking a bit deflated shaking his head. Michael had been part of a Council-led Halstead in Bloom group as a representative of local businesses, and he did have a way of stirring up action. He used to come to work the day after these meetings spitting feathers, keen for less talk and more action. That day, I asked him what happened. He explained that the criteria had changed for the regional Britain in Bloom competition with more focus on volunteer efforts and input from local residents and businesses.

“I don’t think that there will be any interest in Halstead,” Michael said. “The town is still divided between the two wards, and I can’t see them joining together.” Michael had lived in Halstead most of his life and for three or four generations his family had had a business there. I had only been part of the community for ten years or so, but I didn’t see the divisions. “Oh, come on Michael, we can do this,” I said. “You be Chairman and I’ll be Secretary and I’m sure we can show them how it’s done.”

We planned a public meeting in January 2000 and about 60 people came and listened to our proposals. From that we formed a committee and off we went.

“We had no funding and that first year we begged, borrowed and made a display somehow. My husband had access to some five-gallon oil drums, and we cleaned them out, cut them down to various sizes, put safety rims around the tops, painted them and filled them with whatever soil and plants we could find. They got Halstead in Bloom noticed.”

We entered the town into Anglia in Bloom in 2000 and were rewarded with a reasonably good mark and given an award as Best New Entry. One of the team had good links with the local Chamber of Trade and she persuaded various people to donate to the cause. We set up a sponsorship plan and some of those who came on board are still with us today. Sponsorship and gifts are a vital part of our fundraising efforts.

Other volunteers joined and local schools and youth groups also got involved in helping to clear, clean and brighten Halstead. Working as a team, Halstead has won awards both regionally and nationally and the enthusiasm to continue with Halstead in Bloom is very much alive in 2024 – and hopefully well beyond.

“I have been Secretary since the group’s inauguration in January 2000 and I am so proud of what the team has achieved. When I reflect on how we have supported each other through personal crises and through some devastating losses, it makes me feel emotional.”

Our founder, Chairman and latterly President Michael Portway died in 2015, although he is still large in our memories. Our succeeding President, David Hume passed away in 2023. We have had some new volunteers allowing some of the older volunteers to take a back seat – but still be involved. I can’t go back with Bloom to when it all began in 1964 but the past 23 years have been a great experience, years to treasure. Friendships and community continue to be at the centre of everything we do.