Cedric says goodbye after nearly 50 years (From Stourbridge News)

Cedric says goodbye after nearly 50 years

10:09am Thursday 20th September 2007

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GREEN-FINGERED Cedric Welding is set to put away his gardening gloves after nearly half a century tending the borough's parks.

The 64-year-old area manager for Stourbridge's green care team retires today (Thursday September 20) after a 49-year career with Dudley Council.

Cedric bows out after helping Stourbridge to pick up a silver gilt award for the second year running in the prestigious Heart of England in Bloom awards.

He said: "I have really enjoyed my time with Dudley Council and I've worked with a great team.

"I have seen a lot of changes in Dudley and been part of many exciting things over the years."

Cedric - who lives at Withymoor - started as an apprentice gardener at Netherton Park in August 1958 when he was just 14 and the working week was 45 hours long.

While working at Netherton he studied horticulture at Stourbridge College and Wollescote Hall.

Then in 1962 he transferred to Buffery Park in Dudley, which had a large conservatory and three glasshouses for growing plants for bedding out across Dudley.

In about 1970 he went to work at Priory Park as foreman propagator and four years later moved to become assistant parks superintendent at Stourbridge's Mary Stevens Park - where he has been based ever since.

During his lengthy career he was involved in helping to create a feature at the National Garden Festival in Stoke on Trent, in 1986, and more recently he has been heavily involved in Stourbridge's bid for the Heart of England In Bloom success.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley's cabinet member for the environment, said: "Cedric has been a real ambassador for Dudley Council over his 49 years in service, and we are all sorry to see him go."

Cedric now hopes to dedicate more time to his hobbies - photography, football and travel.

He added: "I have a lot of interests and I'm going to be very busy in my retirement.

"I still play a bit of football and I love taking pictures. I'm also planning a holiday in America."

He'll even keep his hand in with a spot of gardening, he said.

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