Bath in Bloom

For many years St John’s has participated in the Bath in Bloom competition and almost every season a resident or a member of staff has been rewarded with a prize.

Ian does it again for St John's

Ian Muttitt, Head Gardener at St John's Hospital, has scooped the 2010 City of Bath cup for an outstanding landscaped city garden, in the South West in Bloom competition. 

In addition, St Catherine’s Hospital Almshouse garden was awarded two silver gilt awards and one was also awarded to Combe Park Almshouse, next to the RUH, from the Bath in Bloom judges.

This is an outstanding result and reward for all the hard work that Ian and his team do at all the Almshouses. The Residents were very impressed when they heard the news but many of them said they were not surprised because each year Ian manages to produce the most wonderful arrangements in the City Centre and at Combe Park, which they all appreciate and enjoy.

Growing for Gold
2009 was a particularly successful year for Ian Muttitt, head gardener for both the city centre and Combe Park.  He was awarded the supreme Gold Cup for best in category.

Ian, who has been involved in designing and maintaining all the almshouses gardens for more than five years, is delighted with his achievement but says that he does it for the residents rather than the recognition. He gets immense pleasure just knowing that the residents appreciate all his hard work and enjoy the fruits and blooms of his labour.

Kath Hooker, one of the residents at St Catherine’s Hospital Almshouse in the city centre, received a Bronze medal for her ‘cottage garden’.  She had a spring in her step when she collected her award from the Deputy Mayor of Bath, Councillor Andrew Furse, at a ceremony in the Guildhall.  Mrs Hooker used to be part of the old council’s domestic cleaning team and worked at the Mayor’s offices for over 17 years – and has a wealth of stories to tell about the place.

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