Bloom is outside party politics
WHAT a joy to read of the continued success of all involved in Loughborough in Bloom in being chosen to represent the East Midlands in Britain in Bloom and see a picture in which folk were actually smiling with pride.
Your letters page is so frequently filled with statements of disappointment and disgust - in my personal view, written all too frequently anonymously as if folk seem too shy to give a name, or instead signed, ‘Shameful of Shepshed’ or ‘Disgusted of Dishley’.
In that frame of mind, I’ll be ‘Obnoxious of Outwoods!’ But here I’d love us simply to celebrate this wonderful news and thank all now involved.
I’m of course biased. It’s 10 years ago since Andy Rush as the Echo editor, Hon. Freeman Mike Jones, and I, as the then Charnwood Borough Council Cabinet Lead for Green Spaces, persuaded the borough council that ‘Bloom’ should be reinstated and actively supported. And they said cautiously - “Yes”
Over that 10 years a vast number of folk across our community, working with and supported by professional staff appointed by CBC, have worked unceasingly, joyfully, and with justified pride to ensure this on-going success.
‘Bloom’ to me is a perfect model of what can be done through community partnerships at every level. And equally importantly, it’s thrived outside the usual Party politics. Recently we’ve seen Conservative Cabinet Leads like Coun Hilary Fryer and now Coun Jenny Bokor, working beside the Chair of Bloom, that well known dedicated Labour supporter, Marion Smith.
There are neighbourhood and street groups at its heart. And let’s never forget the epitome of loving commitment to floral delights, the late Harry Cook - still sadly missed.
What a journey it has been - working together.
On that theme of working together, I was delighted to read Arthur Gould’s letter praising our Conservative CBC for adopting Labour policy over employing labour to directly build and maintain council housing - much needed. Surely it has to be common sense to come together more, and care for our towns and villages right across Charnwood.
No one political party has a monopoly of truth. Nationally, in these bitterly fractious times, let’s not lose sight here locally of the simple truth - all different, all equal, working together is what makes good things bloom!
Cheerfully and hopefully yours, ‘Obnoxious of Outwoods’ (Or just Peter Lewis )