"IT WOULD appear that lightning does strike twice!" That was the comment of Nantwich in Bloom Secretary, Connie Jones, after Nantwich came out tops at the Cheshire Community Pride Awards for the second year in succession.

   The prize-winning town won the Championship award for the Best-Kept Village or Market Town in Cheshire in the competition run by Cheshire Community Action. We also won the award for the best-kept small town in Cheshire (population 10,001 to 30,000).

   In the main award Cheshire includes Warrington and Halton.

   Unable to attend the prestigious event at Nantwich Civic Hall (September 30), Connie had a phone call from Nantwich in Bloom Chairman, Doug Butterill, to say the Nantwich has "swept the board again." The town had been chosen again as Champion of Cheshire.

   Attending the event in support of local towns and villages in the competition was Edward Timpson, MP for Crewe and Nantwich.

   A comment on the website of Cheshire Community Action says: "The market town is well cared for and attractive to all who visit it."

   Connie Jones said later: "The town has reason to be really proud of these awards as the judges come to the town on three different occasions and take us as they find us. They come unannounced and unaccompanied. They are able to go anywhere and everywhere within the town boundaries so there is no way we can do extra preparation for their visits. 

   "It is a compliment to townspeople, the businesses and both local authorities (Cheshire East Council and Nantwich Town Council.)  Cheshire East staff take a real interest in their work and are delighted to be part of our success."  

   As part of the award, Nantwich in Bloom - on behalf of the town - were presented with a watercolour painted by Gordon Wilkinson, "a Cheshire artist of note and a regular contributor to Cheshire Life magazine", says Connie. This year's subject was a view of the Church from the Square.   

 

lNearby village Audlem were successful, too. They received the award for villages with populations of between 1,0001 and 2,500 and the one for the best village website.

 

lCivic Pride used to be known as the Best Kept Village Competition.

 

Previous Community Pride awards on display | Cheshire Community Action website