AFTER Anglia in Bloom judges descended on Halstead for the annual competition, the Gazette has taken a look back through the archives at the town’s illustrious floral history.

Halstead in Bloom members will have to wait patiently until next month to hear if the town will get to add another award to its success over the competition’s 20 years of running.

Last year the town was named the best overall entry beating villages, towns and cities across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

This year’s presentation included a display on the Causeway celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday, a garden celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Anglia in Bloom and the public gardens will be dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of the Workers’ Educational Association.

Despite its success and achieving gold in Anglia in Bloom every year since 2009, it has not always been plain sailing.

In 2008 the Gazette launched a fundraising appeal for Halstead in Bloom after a spate of vandalism in the town just weeks before Anglia in Bloom judges were due to visit.

Last year Halstead in Bloom members debated whether they would enter the Anglia in Bloom competition this year.

But they vowed to continue to enter in memory of late president and founding member Michael Portway.

Halstead in Bloom is always on the lookout for more volunteers and a helping hand wherever it can be offered.

The group usually meets on a Tuesday and a Thursday at 2pm on the bridge leading to the town council building