Reports on Awards and Competitons
Harry Johnson Award
Maureen Stockwood, a member of our Executive Committee, is also Vice-Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Buildings Preservation Trust which, in conjunction with Nottinghamshire CPRE, decides the winners of the Harry Johnson Award. In 2006 awards were made for the best design in a village setting to Ranter’s Farm at Misterton, and for the best restoration of a building the award went to Chris Healey for his careful work on 62, Castle Gate in Newark. The latter was an 18th century cottage, modernised 100 years ago but uninhabited since 1962, which was lovingly restored using lime mortar and lime plaster and other traditional materials – work which took 20 months! Mr. Healey was delighted with the way it turned out, and also to receive the award, which espouses CPRE values.
Best Kept Village Competition
The news that, for the second year in succession, Everton became the champion of champions in 2006, was too late to include in last year’s newsletter. Also in 2006 Misterton was nominated by Nottinghamshire CPRE to enter the national Calor “Village of the Year” competition, and for the 2nd year they won the prestigious Central England Business Category Prize.
This year, however, new champions have emerged. The title for Category A (population >2000) was regained by Burton Joyce after some years, with Bingham as runner-up. In the 700-2000 population category East Markham won the title for the first time, with East Bridgford close behind. Orston emerged as champion in Category C (300-700) with Normanton in second place. Widmerpool returned to championship form to win the smallest village title, with Morton as runner-up. Kingston-on-Soar won “Best New Entrant”. Congratulations to all these villages!
Once more we thank Valerie and the other judges for their exceedingly dedicated work. They praised the villages on their remarkable efforts to return their communities to normal after the floods. Many thanks also to Wilkinsons for their continued generousity in supporting this competition financially: it is such an important matter to assist our village communities to take pride in their themselves. Thanks also to the Nottinghamshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, who reinstall the plaques and to Colin Bower for making the posts.
Rosamund Macfarlane & Valerie Gillespie
