This year is a somewhat special one for Burnham Nurseries, at Forches Cross, Newton Abbot, writes Emma Duester. It signifies 30 years' loyal service by two of its members of staff, adding to the achievements of the gold medal-winning nursery. Current nursery manager Arthur Bell began his service when he was a teenager in June 1976. At the age of 16, Mr Bell, from Kingsteignton, left school to find himself without a job. 'I had not planned on working with plants as my interests were in plumbing and I only planned on staying at the nursery for a short period of time,'. 'It's such an enjoyable and varied job, working with customers and going away to Chelsea and travelling across the UK,' added Mr Bell. This, he says, is what has kept him there for 30 years. He is a popular face in the orchid world. He is well known to the customers and also the team at the Chelsea Flower Show, boasting 10 gold medals out of the total 16 golds the nursery has accumulated. In August the same year, Moira Robley, of bovey Tracey, arrived at the nursery and has since been dealing with scores of customers and taking countless orders over the phone. 'I am very happy where I am and have never had any desires to move anywhere else, 'I could say it is for convenience but it is, however, a truly nice place to work,' mrs Robley added.
