A SILVER cup not seen in 70 years is about to be awarded once again to the winner of the best hanging basket in Winsford.

The Coronation Cup was last awarded in 1953, the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

In celebration of King Charles III’s coronation, Winsford Town Council is bringing the cup back into use in a hanging basket competition.

Given by Mr James Wilson of Wharton Hall, Winsford, the cup was originally awarded by the Winsford and District Allotments and Cottage Gardeners Society for the best hanging basket or window box.

A silver plaque fixed to the base shows that in 1953, the winner was S. Johnson, of Station Road.

As far as is known, the cup was never awarded again, and it passed into the hands of Winsford Town Council who have stored it away for the last 70 years.

The council has now had the cup repaired and cleaned ready to be awarded annually from this year onwards.

Residents, care homes, churches, businesses, and schools are all invited to take part in the competition to decide which is the best hanging basket, or group of baskets, displayed at a Winsford address.

Prizes will be awarded to three winners, and the overall winner will receive the Coronation Cup.

Mayor Ernie Welch said: “It is really nice to see the Coronation Cup being brought back into the community and appropriately being awarded for The Best Hanging Basket competition.

“It’s great for the people of Winsford to show their skills and the winner to be rewarded accordingly.”

To enter, contact Winsford Town Council for an entry form and details of the competition.

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 7, and prizes will be awarded on Saturday, July 15, at the Over Allotments Association open day in Moss Bank.

If anyone has any information on this historic cup, Winsford Town Council would be very interested to hear from you.