Howlett, Ronald – His beds made Grantham blooming great

Ron Howlett, BEM (1922-2015)

RON was born at Ripley, Yorkshire and left the village school at 14 to work as a boy gardener at a nearby village.

In 1938 he obtained employment at Bramham Park, near Wetherby, as a gardener and was not subject to call up but served in the Home Guard.

In 1944 he married Margaret (Madge) whom he met at Bramham when she was in the Land Army and they four daughters and two sons.

They moved to Woolley Hall where he was employed as head gardener

In June 1958 he came to Grantham where he worked for the Grantham Borough Council, later SKDC, as Assistant Parks Superintendent.

In 1976 he became Parks Foreman for the whole of SKDC and was in direct control of 41 full and part time operatives.

He was commended many times for his floral displays for functions and display beds.

His career highlight was being presented to the Queen Mother in 1963 when she planted a tree in Wyndham Park.

He assisted with the planting of 80 trees in Queen Elizabeth Park to commemorate the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother.

He enjoyed playing and watching cricket and bowls, becoming just a spectator.

He was instrumental in setting up and was chairman of the Vale of Belvoir Bowling Association.  He was captain and chairman of Wyndham Park Bowling Club for more than 50 years and also played at Grantham Indoor Bowls Club.

Ron was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 1986 for his services to the local community.

He became widowed after 66 years of marriage and died in January 2015.