Tributes Come in for Council Employee and Acclaimed Rose Grower

It is with deep sadness that Hailsham Town Council received the news that long-term Council employee Len Davies passed away on Thursday morning [5 May 2016], after succumbing to illness.

Acclaimed rose-growing expert Len, who was employed by the Town Council as Gardener & Amenity Warden since 2005, was a well-liked and active member of the local community.

With a good response from members of the public and local organisations including Environment Hailsham, Len was commended numerous times for his work on the maintenance of the rose beds outside the library in Western Road and within the parish church grounds, ensuring that they are visually appealing to the public.

Len was also an acclaimed rose-growing expert, having exhibited roses locally in since 1970 and entering numerous local, regional and national competitions, winning the UK National in 1986.

Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman offered his condolences on behalf of Hailsham Town Council: “Len was a respected employee of the Council and cared passionately about Hailsham and the people in it. I wish to record my deep appreciation of Len’s work over the past eleven years, his kind nature, reliability and not least his positive outlook on things.”

“He will be sadly missed by Town Council members, officers and the wider community. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “I can only add to the many wonderful messages and tributes which have already circulated about Len. His passing is a huge loss for Hailsham and for everyone who knew him.”

Environment Hailsham chairman Richard Grocock commented: “Len maintained a number of rose beds in the town centre, all of which are regularly pruned, watered, hand-weeded and litter picked at each visit.”

“We’re all very grateful to Len for his wonderful work put into enhancing the appearance of our town. We have lost someone who had made a significant contribution to the life and well-being of the community in which he lived.”