AN ANNUAL award in memory of Minchinhampton’s village bobby has just been presented to gardener John Bingle.

The trophy, launched in remembrance of the late PC Jim Gregory, was given to Mr Bingle, of Park Terrace in Minchinhampton, at the Annual Parish Assembly on the night of Monday, May 8.

Local residents, and members of Minchinhampton Parish Council, heard Mr Bingle was judged the recipient of the 2017 award for his voluntary efforts growing and tending floral displays on The Cross war memorial in the centre of the town.

Mr Bingle, a former plumber, was secretary of Stroud Chrysanthemum Society for 28 years, is its current president, and is chairman of the Minchinhampton Gardening Club, the evening learned. 

Mr Bingle also helps organise annual shows staged by both groups, and previously wrote a gardening column for the Minchinhampton Church magazine for 14 years.

PC Gregory’s son Martin was among the panel which had earlier considered many nominations for this year’s Jim Gregory Award and selected Mr Bingle.

Mr Bingle had tended The Cross flowers since 2005 after he was approached by the Royal British Legion to take on the task, council chairman Cllr Nick Hurst told the occasion.

“He also helps maintain the pitch at the Brimscombe and Thrupp Football Club,” said Cllr Hurst.

Mr Bingle, who was accompanied by his wife Pat, thanked the audience for his presentation.

PC Gregory, who died in December 2014, had been an old fashioned “bobby-on-the-beat” in Minchinhampton from September 1987 until June 2000 when he was transferred to royal protection duties at Highgrove.  He served there until retirement.