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Great Yarmouth Borough Council #GroundsWeek

Wed 2 March 2022

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Background info:

Stephen started working for at Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) in May 1975.  Back then the council had their own nurseries where they grew all their own plants.  These plants were used along the seafront from Great Yarmouth to Gorleston and the annual Lord Major show.

Stephen attended Burlingham college for 3 years where he studied Horticulture and Turf care to help develop him in his role.  This enabled Stephen to become a groundsman for GYBC at the Welsey Recreation Ground and Racecourse. His duties included maintaining the sports and running track.

A number of years later Stephen completed a 3-year course in arboculture with Norwich City Council. This helped to Stephen and his team through the Dutch Elm Disease crisis which, saw them working across Norfolk.

In 1980’s Stephen headed up the team at Gorleston Bowls Club and in 2016 became the overall Grounds Supervisor at GYBC.  His current role means he is overall supervisor to Great Yarmouth’s sports facilities (Football, Bowls, Green spaces and playgrounds).

Typical Day:

Stephen has an early start around 7am and is the first in the office to dish out the keys to each driver and jobs for the day.  This can include Planting trees, Top dressing bowls greens, mowing

Biggest Challenges:

During the Football session weekly checks are done by Stephen and his team.  These are completed early Saturday morning to make sure pitches are playable.  Decisions are then made if games need to be cancelled and decisions called in.

Bowling Green Preparation ready for May start date. 

• Employee deployment
• Ordering products and materials
• Keeping costs down

 

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