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Village news
Springtime in Rose Lane
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Above: At this time of year colours abound in the garden and many residents stop to admire, in particular, this garden in Rose Lane especially in spring. It is the creation of Florrie Widger, a soon to be 90 years young. keen gardener.
David Clark 1937–2015
5 Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme 7 A fond farewell to Andrew & Joanne 7 … farewell to Margo Wherrell 7 Melbourn Village Fete and Music on the Moor 9 British Legion Women’s Section 15 Library 15 Melbourn Amateur Dramatics Society (MADS) 15 Melbourn Bloomsday Celebration 17 Relate Wins Big Lottery Funding 18 Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group 18 An Open Invitation 18 Care in the community 18 Oil Buying Scheme Cambridgeshire ACRE 19 Peer Support for people with Type 2 diabetes 19
David Clark 1937–2015
David Clark was familiar to many people in the area as the knowledgeable owner of Phillimore Garden Centre (sometimes Mr Phillimore).
He was born in Cambridge and lived in the area all his life except for three years in the army, where he was an NCO in the Grenadier Guards, and time at agricultural college near Bury St Edmunds. As a Guardsman he took part in the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and The Tower of London, and Trooping the Colour.
He married his wife, Lorna in 1960 and soon moved to Harston. He was employed in the agrochemical industry, as a rep for farm chemicals. At the same time, he managed his parents’ orchard, bred pigs and reared chickens for eggs and capons for the Christmas market.
In 1969 the family, which included Susan and Nigel, moved to Phillimore Gardens near Melbourn. Here he developed the orchard and grew soft fruit and some vegetables to send to Spitalfields Market. They also opened a stall in the shed next to the house to sell their wares. Many people will remember buying apples in the white shed.
David left his job in 1981 and developed the small holding further, including salad crops and eventually bedding plants (even though he thought there was no money in flowers!) The expansion of the garden centre has evolved over the years, doing a bit each year as spare money became available and has grown into the business you see today.
