One of the team said that his joining was "like a breath of fresh air."

Wendy says he has unstintingly turned out with the group on cold November days planting up the large flower pots with spring bulbs which are dotted around the town, and during January and February bulb planting in Welland Park.

He alone planted over 1,000 crocus bulbs one day in February. In May he, as a team leader, helped carry out the planting up of hundreds of the hanging baskets ready to be displayed around town.

His volunteering work carried on through the spring and summer helping to plant the gardens ready for the Harborough in Bloom competition.

Bob, who lives in Scott Close, Harborough, is 65, and his colleagues can regularly be seen during the summer months weeding and planting up (where necessary) the beds in the park.

Wendy said that she would like to give a vote of thanks to all the Harborough in Bloom volunteers for all their work and dedication throughout the year.

The couple have lived in Harborough over two years, having moved from Barnet in Herts a couple of years previously.

It was by chance that they moved to Harborough. Wendy tells the story that they had been on a three-day break with Travelsphere and stayed in the Three Swans.

At the time they didn't have any plans for moving from the house they had lived in for 20 years, but they were so impressed with the town that they promptly sold their house and moved here.

About a year and a half ago Bob answered an appeal in the Mail for volunteers and the rest is history.

Wendy said Harborough is so much more interesting than Barnet - they were amused when they heard about ferret racing here - and there is so much going on. She said they love the town.