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© Horsham in Bloom 2010 Registered Charity No. 1054455 Contact us: Phone: 01403
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Anne Bellringer
Anne Bellringer, who died in May 2011 after a brave four-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer was an ‘In Bloom’ stalwart credited with having a huge impact on the local environment.
She had risen to the influential position of chair of Horsham In Bloom and for two years had been very much involved in overseeing the bid for the new garden in the Horsham Park which was opened on June 18th only a few weeks after Anne died.
Anne’s husband Paul Bellringer OBE who strongly supported Anne’s work with Horsham In Bloom said, shortly after her death, “We are all very sad that she died before the opening of the Human Nature Garden. She would have loved the occasion and the fact that she was instrumental in bringing such an attractive project to the town.
“She felt that it was a wonderful addition to what already is a fantastic park. It would have been a very proud day.”
Close colleague Christine Costin, former chair and founder of Horsham in Bloom, said: “Anne’s illness was a tragic intervention but she was so brave and determined to beat it.”
Christine added: “When Anne joined the Horsham in Bloom team she quickly became familiar with all the positive things that ‘in Bloom’ brings to the local environment, she was keen to see that Horsham made the most out of everything from flowers to landscaping, from conservation to community initiatives. She loved flowers and set her sights on helping to make Horsham town a better place for everyone.
Soon after Anne took her place on the committee Horsham reached the final of Nations in Bloom. In December 2001 a delegation from Horsham had the honour of going to Shenzhen in China to put forward the town’s entry. Horsham’s team flew home with the international award for Best Landscaping and took second place in its population category.
Anne later became vice chair of the Horsham in Bloom committee where colleagues say she played “an ever increasing role in the many successes” that were achieved by Horsham in Bloom.
Christine said: “For me it was a privilege to work with Anne, she gave me encouragement and huge support whilst I was chairman, this helped the team in preparing the way towards Horsham eventually winning Britain in Bloom in 2007. Anne was much admired for the grace and fortitude with which she sought to overcome her illness. She was always dignified, helpful and elegant; a beautiful lady able to rise to any occasion.”
David Holmes, (L. Dem, Horsham Park), said: “For my wife, Jill, and me the Human Nature Garden will be a permanent reminder of a good friend who put a huge amount of effort into making Horsham Town a more beautiful place. Much that Horsham in Bloom achieved would not have been possible without the energy and effectiveness with which she went about raising funds from local businesses. Tens of thousands of pounds were raised including the enthusiastic ongoing support of Novartis.
“That apart, Anne was an inspirational person. Despite being diagnosed with cancer most people would not have known that she was having regular treatment and fighting the disease; she never complained.”
Sue Brundish, who took over as acting chair of Horsham in Bloom in 2011 said: “We are all profoundly sad that our chair, Anne, has finally lost her long and valiant fight against cancer. She was a true ambassador for Horsham in Bloom, first as vice chair and most recently as chair where she led us from the front with vision, professionalism and sureness of touch to propel the organisation forward.
Evan Giles, parks services manager for Horsham District Council worked alongside Anne for many years. He said: ‘Anne’s determination to continue leading valued environmental initiatives in our community despite her illness and intrusive treatments has been an inspiration”
All associated with this charity will long remember the magnificent contribution Anne Bellringer made over the last decade to Horsham in Bloom and to the local community, as her memory lives on in the many projects and successes she helped to bring to the town.
