Clive Addison
Clive Addison (MSC H.Hort(RHS) FCHI FIH) was until recently head of leisure services in North Wales. He is now chairman of Wales in Bloom and a judge for both Britain in Bloom and Europe in Bloom. Clive's son died of leukaemia at 19 years old and his wife Heather struggled with M.E. for 12 years - and then a miracle?
Clive is a great speaker for town's who run "In Bloom" competitions. He is willing to run "question and answer" sessions which can be part of the In Bloom competition...
From an Interview in The Church Times:
I am not on the church flower rota: there are so many other people who enjoy flowers. But I do get nobbled off duty, rather like a doctor: people wanting a bit of free advice - what should I do with . . . ? I don't mind, as I love plants.
If you like a flower arrangement or its colours go for it, there is no correct formula. Personally, I am not keen on blowsy roses, but others will say "Wow!" I like more subdued lilacs and whites. But I always admire a really well-grown plant. Flowers are such a wonderful part of God's creation.
At our home in Wales, my wife Heather and I grow our own fruit and veg, and we have a smallholding with sheep and poultry. When we moved there, the sheep came with the land. It is lovely when they lamb, but not easy sending them to the abattoir.
I am a professional horticulturalist. Despite what people think, it is far more than just gardening. You name it, I've studied it - from greenhouse production to crops, shrubs, flowers. My first job was in public-parks management at a time when councils had these departments. They now come under leisure services. I was a director in both Hartlepool and Aberconwy.
The key to judging is to take away personal preference and use the set criteria. We are currently judging Wales in Bloom. The whole of the UK is carved up into "In Bloom" regions, and there are 23 different classes. We are all trained by the Royal Horticultural Society [RHS]. A city would take us about four to five hours to judge, a village perhaps one-and-a-half to two.
We always look underneath and check for water and earwigs. One town borrowed displays at the last minute to cover up something that had gone wrong; it was soon spotted.
It can get very competitive: the RHS is a stickler for rules and regulations. I have been offered "presents" on the quiet once or twice, but you ignore it. Then you hear stories of how one village was nobbled by a neighbouring one. We had an incident in a town where all the hanging baskets were sprayed with pesticide just before we arrived. In this case, it was an accident: the watering system had not been cleaned properly, and had previously contained pesticide.
The different classes range from whole communities, towns or villages, to hotels, pubs, and schools. When we visit, it is about what we see as we walk down the street: not just the public displays, but front gardens as well. Everyone knows we are coming; so there are no excuses.
We expect to see the whole community involved, making their environment more attractive through floral plantings, beddings, and hanging baskets, all to the highest quality. It is an opportunity to lend some floral vibrance to the area.
I have seen some bizarre things as a judge: growbags suspended up a wall, a whole house covered in Busy Lizzies, flowers sticking out of chimney pots. I could go on. . .
The judges are looking for flowers that have been used properly and effectively. To qualify, all plants must be fit and healthy and show buds; and the soil must be completely covered. Churches do feature in the community category, but usually tend to put on their own flower festivals as a one-off event.
Environmental concerns are now part of our judging: the cleanliness of the community, no rubbish or fly-posters. We even check for fag ends. Then we look at the sustainability and carbon footprint. Are local flowers being used? Is there a nature reserve or conservation area, and what about recycling? Britain in Bloom is certainly more than pot plants.
Whoever wins Britain in Bloom goes forward to Entente Florale; now a European competition, but originally between Britain and France. I am one of two judges representing the UK at this level. Harrogate won this competition the first year it happened.
My favourite religious books are Nine O'Clock in the Morning by Dennis Bennett, Francis MacNutt's early books on healing, and John Bevere's Drawing Near. To switch off, I love Somerset Maugham and Charles Dickens.
Family are so very important to us both. We lost our 19-year-old son Duncan to leukaemia 11 years ago; he was first ill at 16, but recovered and did A levels, and the illness returned. In the early stage of this treatment, he caught a virus. It is very hard to put the experience into words. Our daughter, Lorna, is married to Stephen, and has provided us with five grandsons. They live in Kuala Lumpur, and we see them regularly.
As a child, I wanted to survive: I was very asthmatic and constantly ill. But I did grow up near the New Forest, and originally wanted to go into forestry.
My biggest choice was making a real commitment to Christ in my 30s. I had been brought up in a church environment, but had not understood about having a personal relationship. I am a lay Reader for the Church in Wales, and most Sundays you will find me in my home church, St Mary's, Conway.
I would like to be remembered not for flowers, but for my Christian faith.
The writer C. S. Lewis has always inspired me, along with Donald Latham, who was the treasurer at Wiltshire County Council in the 1980s: he introduced me to the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International. I have since travelled quite extensively with them, helping deliver Bibles.
I always remember a sermon by the late Revd David Watson in Bath Abbey. He spoke very inspiringly about the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, I love John's Gospel, particular chapter 5, verse 24. I am not keen on Numbers and all the lists.
I get angry when I see people being manipulated: this can happen just as much in the Christian world. I am happiest when I am enthusing about Jesus.
I find it spiritually refreshing to be close to nature. On the side of our mountain, looking out across the Conway Valley, or recently visiting my daughter in the rainforest, where we spotted a troop of monkeys.
would like to get locked in a church with Billy Graham, someone of great spiritual wisdom. I still remember attending some of his rallies.
Clive Addison was talking to Rachel Harden from Church Times
Clive is a great speaker for town's who run "In Bloom" competitions. He is willing to run "question and answer" sessions which can be part of the In Bloom competition...
From an Interview in The Church Times:
I am not on the church flower rota: there are so many other people who enjoy flowers. But I do get nobbled off duty, rather like a doctor: people wanting a bit of free advice - what should I do with . . . ? I don't mind, as I love plants.
If you like a flower arrangement or its colours go for it, there is no correct formula. Personally, I am not keen on blowsy roses, but others will say "Wow!" I like more subdued lilacs and whites. But I always admire a really well-grown plant. Flowers are such a wonderful part of God's creation.
At our home in Wales, my wife Heather and I grow our own fruit and veg, and we have a smallholding with sheep and poultry. When we moved there, the sheep came with the land. It is lovely when they lamb, but not easy sending them to the abattoir.
I am a professional horticulturalist. Despite what people think, it is far more than just gardening. You name it, I've studied it - from greenhouse production to crops, shrubs, flowers. My first job was in public-parks management at a time when councils had these departments. They now come under leisure services. I was a director in both Hartlepool and Aberconwy.
The key to judging is to take away personal preference and use the set criteria. We are currently judging Wales in Bloom. The whole of the UK is carved up into "In Bloom" regions, and there are 23 different classes. We are all trained by the Royal Horticultural Society [RHS]. A city would take us about four to five hours to judge, a village perhaps one-and-a-half to two.
We always look underneath and check for water and earwigs. One town borrowed displays at the last minute to cover up something that had gone wrong; it was soon spotted.
It can get very competitive: the RHS is a stickler for rules and regulations. I have been offered "presents" on the quiet once or twice, but you ignore it. Then you hear stories of how one village was nobbled by a neighbouring one. We had an incident in a town where all the hanging baskets were sprayed with pesticide just before we arrived. In this case, it was an accident: the watering system had not been cleaned properly, and had previously contained pesticide.
The different classes range from whole communities, towns or villages, to hotels, pubs, and schools. When we visit, it is about what we see as we walk down the street: not just the public displays, but front gardens as well. Everyone knows we are coming; so there are no excuses.
We expect to see the whole community involved, making their environment more attractive through floral plantings, beddings, and hanging baskets, all to the highest quality. It is an opportunity to lend some floral vibrance to the area.
I have seen some bizarre things as a judge: growbags suspended up a wall, a whole house covered in Busy Lizzies, flowers sticking out of chimney pots. I could go on. . .
The judges are looking for flowers that have been used properly and effectively. To qualify, all plants must be fit and healthy and show buds; and the soil must be completely covered. Churches do feature in the community category, but usually tend to put on their own flower festivals as a one-off event.
Environmental concerns are now part of our judging: the cleanliness of the community, no rubbish or fly-posters. We even check for fag ends. Then we look at the sustainability and carbon footprint. Are local flowers being used? Is there a nature reserve or conservation area, and what about recycling? Britain in Bloom is certainly more than pot plants.
Whoever wins Britain in Bloom goes forward to Entente Florale; now a European competition, but originally between Britain and France. I am one of two judges representing the UK at this level. Harrogate won this competition the first year it happened.
My favourite religious books are Nine O'Clock in the Morning by Dennis Bennett, Francis MacNutt's early books on healing, and John Bevere's Drawing Near. To switch off, I love Somerset Maugham and Charles Dickens.
Family are so very important to us both. We lost our 19-year-old son Duncan to leukaemia 11 years ago; he was first ill at 16, but recovered and did A levels, and the illness returned. In the early stage of this treatment, he caught a virus. It is very hard to put the experience into words. Our daughter, Lorna, is married to Stephen, and has provided us with five grandsons. They live in Kuala Lumpur, and we see them regularly.
As a child, I wanted to survive: I was very asthmatic and constantly ill. But I did grow up near the New Forest, and originally wanted to go into forestry.
My biggest choice was making a real commitment to Christ in my 30s. I had been brought up in a church environment, but had not understood about having a personal relationship. I am a lay Reader for the Church in Wales, and most Sundays you will find me in my home church, St Mary's, Conway.
I would like to be remembered not for flowers, but for my Christian faith.
The writer C. S. Lewis has always inspired me, along with Donald Latham, who was the treasurer at Wiltshire County Council in the 1980s: he introduced me to the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International. I have since travelled quite extensively with them, helping deliver Bibles.
I always remember a sermon by the late Revd David Watson in Bath Abbey. He spoke very inspiringly about the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, I love John's Gospel, particular chapter 5, verse 24. I am not keen on Numbers and all the lists.
I get angry when I see people being manipulated: this can happen just as much in the Christian world. I am happiest when I am enthusing about Jesus.
I find it spiritually refreshing to be close to nature. On the side of our mountain, looking out across the Conway Valley, or recently visiting my daughter in the rainforest, where we spotted a troop of monkeys.
would like to get locked in a church with Billy Graham, someone of great spiritual wisdom. I still remember attending some of his rallies.
Clive Addison was talking to Rachel Harden from Church Times