Sidmouth first became involved in the Britain In Bloom in 1971. It was decided at a meeting of Sidmouth Urban District Council that the town should enter the competition.
Then, Britain In bloom was sponsored by the British Tourist Authority.
The competition has started a few years earlier. Incidentally, the idea of an inter town / village / city competition had originated in France where a similar competition had been running for many years, started by President De Gaulle.
A public meeting was called in Sidmouth by the Chairman of Sidmouth E.D.C. Councillor R.B.Webb, O.B.E. and at that meeting a local committee was set up, under the chairmanship of Mr John Govier. Sadly only one other member of that original committee is left, the present Vice Chairman, Mrs Joy Seward.
So Sidmouth In Bloom had started! in 1972 the town had a "trial" run without entering.
In 1973 Sidmouth won the best small town in the South West having entered for the first time.
In 1975 Sidmouth won the Best Town in the British Isles and went on to win the Entente Florale Cup for the Best Town in Europe.
Since 1975 Sidmouth has been winning prizes in the SouthWest Competition and the National Finalists most Years.
