- Reg Langlois
- Island of Jersey UK
- 22 Mar 2006
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25
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Job change...........
I am proud to say that I have been elected onto a a new position for me with our parish of St Brelade in Jersey. With another, I will be looking after the finances as in property and welfare. As I have never done anything like this before and I will be taking on the responsibility, and running my garden at the same time, I have discided to give up my busy post as parish 'floral coordinator' A post that I have held single handedly more often than not, for the last ten years.
Since I started, floral competitions have gone from strength to strength. (nothing to do with me) Most of the twelve parishes in Jersey take part in an all island competition with the succesful parish being invited to compeat in the finals of the RHS Britain in Bloom Floral Competition.
The big one.
In 2003, St Brelade was invited to compeat in the finals in the Small Coastel Resort Category, we were lucky to get Bronze as there were five other excellent competitors from all over Great Britain. Filey, coastel resort came first with Sidmouth who had been compeating for over thirty years second with us third.
A few months before the judges went about their duties, contestants were invited over to Wisley in Surrey to take part in a seminar about the competition. It gave us a good chance to meet some of the judges first hand and also meet the Competition organizers who would be giving us help and advice in the build up to the judging. We also had the opportunity of talking to Bianca,.Carolyne and others.
Back to Jersey, a few days later I received a phone call from a TV researcher Sarah March, she was calling on behalf of the program, you might have heard of it, 'Gardeners World'. They had come up with an idea. It was to have two people discussing the competition. They had chosen to interview Joy Seward and myself as, as they said that we got on well at the seminar and how we teased each as to who was going to win our category. They had the feeling that could make a film. Well, Joy and I had never been filmed before and as we were both coming up to the big 70 (hope Joy does not know that I am telling you her age) it was going to be fun. And it was. The camera team filmed in Jersey and in Sidmouth with Joy and I early in the Summer, and later, the night of the awards we were filmed as we approched the Guildhall in London and again during the awards in front of 450 people with Monty Don presenting the awards. What a time, I certainly will never forget it. A few days later the film was shown on BBC TV.
In 2006, St Brelade will again be in the finals, please wish them luck. Regretfully, I will not be with them this time.. (I don't think)
Because of our strong interest in flowers and the like, Joy and her husband Colin and I have stayed friends ever since.
Heck! ............... I am going to miss RHS's Britain in Bloom ........ Reg
PS I would like to thank Alice Paterson for her help to me this year and to wish her and the rest of the team well for a great exciting competition in 2006.
[Edited on 28/03/2006]
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