Golden Lane: Sue Pearson's rhubarb

The Councillor’s racy red past

Newly elected Cripplegate Councillor Sue Pearson is always happy to talk rhubarb, especially when the subject is her own contribution to that trusty filler of pies and crumbles.

Sue’s rhubarb has a life story. It sits today in a quiet corner of the Golden Baggers allotment, but the road it took to get here is a story in itself, a kind of rhubarb version of Who Do You Think You Are? It was born and raised in Wales by Sue’s Dad. Once it reached maturity, he outsourced cuttings to his children, who grew up and left home, but took a piece of Welsh rhubarb with them wherever they went. And from that day on, the hobo life of the plant began.

The muscular red beauty you see in the pot against the east wall of the allotment has journeyed with Cllr Pearson from Wales to Wilmslow and Derbyshire before it found its present home here on Golden Lane. It is clearly a survivor. The number of tarts it has parented is unknown, but please feel free to speculate. If​ you need any proof of its health and fertility, gently push back those big green leaves and check out the silky stems. Awesome.

Councillor's Choice: Look at those legs!