MEMBERS of Winchester Rotary were out in full force to plant new crocus flowers around the King Alfred statue for World Polio Day.

The flowers were first planted around the statue at the bottom of Winchester High Street at the suggestion of Rotary member Gill Russell, who is a polio survivor.

Gill said: “I got the idea from the Stratford on Avon Rotary Club having planted crocus’s around their statue of Shakespeare. I sent it to the city council, and said ‘What about King Alfred?’ and that was four years ago which was the first time we did and they need renewing.”

Club members, including Gill and fellow polio survivor Dr Kordo Saeed, went to renew the crocus on Saturday, October 26, and plant bulbs in other parts of the city.

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Rotary president Paul Russell told the Chronicle that the club would be planting 4,000 crocus bulbs across three sites in the city centre – by King Alfred, in Abbey Gardens and the Cathedral Close.

When asked about the amount of people who had shown up to help plant the bulbs, he said: “It’s very encouraging.

“We’re just the Winchester Rotary Club – Alresford Rotary did a planting as well, they did theirs on Thursday (October 24). It’s all through the country people are doing this, either on World Polio Day or on the nearest Saturday.”

Alongside members of Winchester Rotary, volunteers from Rotoract Winchester had come along to help plant the flowers.

Club member Thomas Bwambale said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to be supporting a wonderful cause.

“Rotary is one of the world’s leading charities that supports the End Polio Now Campaign – we are more than thrilled to make a contribution to this cause.”

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The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, was also present at the crocus planting. He said: “I’m of an age to remember children at school, my contemporaries, who’d had polio. So, I’m very conscious of it, because it is so easily fixed. People still suffer from it, and it’s absolutely tragic in this day and age.

“I’m full of admiration for the Rotary, they do so many good causes and I count them as personal friends. They are always at the forefront raising money for charities and organising events. It’s great.

“I’m delighted to come along and help. I think it’s wonderful, and it’s great fun to see the crocus come up early in the spring – one of the early signs of the spring arriving – and they are beautiful flowers.”