14 August 2024

As we don’t have a Club Meeting in August I am sending you my Newsletter to keep you all in touch with the Club. Also , it is so hot outside today I am trying to stay inside where it is a bit cooler – not a lot!!

​As usual I have been busy with NAFAS events. On 26th – 28th July I went to the ‘Highland Fling’’ in Glasgow, with
Ann Swain and Brenda London and about 150 NAFAS members from all over the UK and some from overseas.
It was the National President’s Weekend in a large hotel on the banks of the Clyde. We had a super time as it was
well organised with talks, dinners with entertainment afterwards and an excellent Scottish demonstration on
Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning the talk was about the life and career of Christian Dior – fascinating.
​Of course, there was time to chat to lots of people to share ideas and views that I also enjoyed.  

Houghton Conquest Autumn Show on Saturday 7th September. The classes give something for everyone.
1. "All About Orange" - an exhibit with orange being the predominant colour.
2. "Canned Creation" - an exhibit in a tin can, max overall height 30cm (12"), width 25cm (10"), depth 25cm (10"), foam free
3. "As you like it" - an exhibit using flowers from your garden or a bunch costing no more than £10 (include the receipt).
4. A foliage buttonhole.
Classes 2, 3 and 4 can be brought ready assembled.
1 and 3 will be staged within an area 51cm x 60cm (approx 20" x 23.5 "), height unlimited, against a brick wall.
2 and 4 will be staged on open tabling.
Further information available from the Secretary on 01234 740892 - [email protected]​



Area Flower Festival 19th – 22nd September at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
​‘Abundant Blessings’


​Home Counties Area are holding this big Flower Festival to showcase all the talents and skills we have and to promote our Clubs. There will be over 40 exhibits staged by Area Clubs and individuals and music in the Church throughout the weekend.  It will be a great event. 
See poster attached – please come to support your Area

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​Education Fun Day 23rd October Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead 10 - 3pm 
This will be a fun day with a demonstration by Gill McGregor on foam- free mechanics, talks and practical activities
on many aspects of designing without foam and competitions.   Everyone is welcome.   Tickets are £20 for the day.

Our next meeting is 5th September with a demonstration by Wendy Goodliff – ‘A Stitch in Time’.
The Charity table theme is anything Handmade – crafts, materials, preserves, cookery

23 June 2024

​I would like to thank you all for supporting the Baby Basics charity at our last meeting. I have received a letter from Sue Ives the local organiser and she was overwhelmed by the amount of donations we gave her and assured me that they would all go to very needy mothers and babies.

I would also like to thank you for all the good wishes I received for my 80th birthday and also the beautiful bowl of orchids that I received from the Club. 
I had a wonderful weekend celebrating with my family and then a party for 60 with my extended family and special friends. Ironically I got 80 cards, two cakes and some lovely presents. Then John and I had a relaxing time in Guernsey for 5 days as it is one of my favourite places.
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I really enjoyed our June Meeting with Joanna Davis as she was such a friendly lady and her demonstration was very good. She informed us and entertained us with her Blooms and Tunes.

​​Flower Arranging Classes - Designs for Summer
Our classes have gone really well and the students have all excelled themselves again.

Our next meeting 4th July we have a change of demonstrator to our advertised one.
Jennifer Thompson is coming and her title is A Good Read. She has ben highly recommended so I am sure it will be another good evening.  Following on from our lovely Spring display of arrangements in April please get creative again and show us your ideas of ‘Summertime’ by creating an arrangement inspired by an aspect of Summer eg gardens, holidays, seaside summer cocktails or just sunshine. Please have a go!

Flower Festival 7th /8th September at St Mary’s Church Clophill to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Church. This will be a Festival of exhibits and displays enhanced with our flower arrangements. If you would like to be involved we have a viewing day on 2nd July 2-5pm and 5th July 2-5pm in St Mary’s Church, Clophill.  We need arrangers and ‘goffers’.

Area Flower Festival  19th – 22nd September at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin  -  ‘Abundant Blessings’
Home Counties Area are holding this big Flower Festival to showcase all the talents and skills we have and to promote our Clubs. There will be over 40 exhibits and music in the Church throughout the weekend.  20 Clubs and many individuals are taking part and our Club team has one of the largest in front of the main altar. If you would like to be involved as a helper or a steward over the weekend, please let me know.

Education Fun Day  23rd October Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead 10 – 3pm. This will be a fun day with a demonstration by Gill McGregor on foam-free mechanics, talks and practical activities on many aspects of designing without foam and competitions. Everyone is welcome Tickets are £20 for the day.

With my best wishes,

​Carolyn

Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club

​We had a great evening at the Club in April with an excellent demonstration by Louisa Rigden. I was so pleased that lots of members brought a Spring design to create a fantastic display and lots of interest. As there was so much variety it would have been difficult to choose a personal favourite.   It is good to keep up our skills.

On 2 May we have an Open Evening with one of our favourite demonstrators – Lee Berrill, who wants us to ‘Remember When…’  Tickets are still available from Gillian.  It is advisable to reserve a ticket in advance either through Committee Members or through the Contact tab on this site. There will be no Charity Table as it is always a busy evening but Karen is bringing lots of plants for sale.

We will be holding a Plant Stall at the Village Fete on 11 May in aid of our charity for MND Association.   If you have any plants, seedlings or cuttings that you are willing to donate we would be very grateful and you can bring them to the May meeting,  deliver them to a committee member or to the Church on the day.

**Flower Arranging Classes - Designs for Summer**
During this 4-week course you will celebrate the beautiful flowers and foliage that grow in summer. Learn the  knowledge and skills needed to make beautiful designs that last.                                     

What will we cover?

• Creating different designs both modern and traditional. Using alternative mediums for sustainability within flower arranging.
• Plants to grow in your garden for flower arranging.
• How to place your design for maximum impact and longevity.
• The skills you need to select flowers, foliage and materials for your arrangements.

                
​               23rd May  - Carolyn         30th May   -   Ann S.         20th June -    Carolyn       27th June  -  Ann S
                                    £22 for 4 sessions     There will be registration forms available on 2nd May

On 6 June we have Joanna Davis demonstrating with her title: 'Blooms and Tunes'. 
​At that meeting we are planning to collect together our donations to Baby Basics, a charity which helps disadvantaged young mothers.  Please see these suggestions of suitable donations:
​Items appreciated -
Prams, pushchairs, high chairs, baby chairs
Moses baskets, baths
Baby mats, play mats
All toiletries for a newborn to age 5/6 years
Baby and adult toiletries, plus unopened gift sets
Size 12”, 14” jumpers, cardigans – white/pastel
Baby blankets
Clothes for 2-5 years, including new pairs of knickers and socks
Used clothing for children – birth to 5/6 years
Used towels/ bedding. All sizes and colours
Cold water steriliser vessels

Flower Festival 7/8 September St Mary’s Church Clophill to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Church. This will be a Festival of exhibits and displays enhanced with our flower arrangements. If you would like to be involved please sign the list at our next meeting – we need arrangers and ‘goffers’.

​Area Flower Festival  19 – 22 September at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.  This is another date for your diary  

​With my best wishes,  
       Carolyn             ​
                                                     Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club                                                                 

I have heard that the March Meeting went very well and Linda used a lot of beautiful flowers.  I am sorry I missed it and my thanks to all the Committee for keeping things running smoothly. It is amazing that Easter is nearly here and our next meeting is the following week. 

On 4th April the demonstration will be by Louisa Rigden ‘Regal Flowers’.  She comes from Coventry and has been highly recommended.   The Charity table next meeting will be Jewellery and Scarves and there will still be some Gift items left from last month.    We would like members to bring ‘A Spring design’ – any size, with or without foam. There will be no obligation or pressure – just the opportunity to show off our skills and talents and it will not be formally judged. We will have large tables to display them and I hope it will make a fantastic herald to Spring.
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2nd May we have an Open Evening with one of our favourite demonstrators – Lee Berrill, who wants us to ‘Remember When…’  Tickets are available from Gillian Hill : Members £6 and visitors £12.
​There will be no Charity Table in May as it is always a busy evening. 

We will be holding a Plant Stall at the Village Fete on 11th May in aid of our charity for MND Association. If you have any plants, seedlings, cuttings that you are willing to donate we would be very grateful and you can bring them to the May meeting or deliver them to a committee member or to the Church on the day.
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On 6th June we have Joanna Davis demonstrating. The Committee have decided to support Baby Basics, that is a local charity supporting disadvantaged mothers with new babies and little children. They would like donations of baby clothes and equipment, new or second-hand to be given to them, as this was one of our nominated charities that we felt it should be supported at the June meeting.   I hope you agree.

Area Member’s Day 17th April at Spotlight, Broxbourne. A super day with a talk in the morning by Maria Pennington on jewellery with pearls,  A buffet lunch and then a demonstration by Annette Urquhart (National Demonstrator) ‘ The Sound of Rhubarb’  - I am interested to see what this is all about!!
​Tickets are £28 and can be booked at the Club – see Gillian Hill and transport can be organised.

Home Counties Area of NAFAS - The Malvern / Chelsea Competition
Area Competition to compete at Malvern Autumn Flower Show  which gives the opportunity to compete at RHS Malvern and then Chelsea in 2025.
Have you  ever wanted to be an exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower Show with all expenses paid?
Now is your opportunity!
We want to find new talent within our NAFAS membership. This Competition is open to all NAFAS members who HAVE NOT previously competed at RHS Chelsea, either as an individual or with another.
We are holding our Area  Elimination Competition on Monday 17th  June at the Whitehill Centre, Welwyn
Title  ‘Shaped by Nature'
**See the full information at the Club meetings in April and May or contact Carolyn**

Flower Festival 7th/8th September at St Mary’s Church Clophill to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Church. This will be a Festival of exhibits and displays enhanced with our flower arrangements.   Please put it in your diary and I will be asking for members to volunteer to help with the arrangements. There will be sponsorship to cover the cost of the flowers.
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Area Flower Festival  19th – 22nd September at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.  This is another date for your diary  

With my best wishes              
 Carolyn             
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club
                                              Wishing you all a very Happy Easter                                                 ​

29 February 2024

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - February 2024 Newsletter

It was good to see so many members and visitors at our February meeting. It was a busy evening as subscriptions were due, the Charity table as popular and there were lots of notices and things to organise. I was disappointed with the demonstration, so hopefully the next one will be of the standard that we expect.

Unfortunately, I am unable to be at the next meeting as I have to visit another Area Club in my capacity of Area Chairman. We have an excellent Committee who I know will cover for me very well and everything will run smoothly as usual!    I know where I would rather be!     
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Subscriptions for 2024 are due, if you missed last month. They will remain the same as last year £45 – this includes the NAFAS affiliation fee. It will be possible for payments to be made over 3 months at £15 a month if this is easier. Bank transfers and cheques are accepted . Visitors fees will remain the same at £7.

Our Charity Table

​It was lovely to welcome Gill Dimiry from Noah Enterprises and present her with a cheque for £700 from our charity fund for 2023.


We voted for the charity for 2024 and it was a majority vote for Motor Neurone Disease Association.   All the charities were worthy but we do have a member who has been diagnosed recently with this horrible disease.

​The Charity table next meeting will be All About Gifts – cards, bags, paper, unwanted new gifts . If you make cards and would like to sell some and give the charity a donation that would be appreciated.

​ We are planning to introduce holding a quarterly Club Competition to encourage members to gain confidence in competing and entering local shows. There will be no obligation or pressure – just the opportunity to show off our skills and talents and it will not be formally judged. The first one will be in April when it will be a simple Spring design – any size, with or without foam - these designs may give you some ideas.

Area Member’s Day 17th April at Spotlight, Broxbourne.
A super day with a talk in the morning by Maria Pennington on jewellery with pearls.   A buffet lunch and then a demonstration by Annette Urquhart (National Demonstrator) ‘ The Sound of Rhubarb’  - I am interested to see what this is all about!!
Tickets are £28 and can be booked at the Club – see Gillian Hill and transport can be organised.​

Looking ahead to our next meetings:
7th March  Linda Seabrook – ‘The Welsh Highwayman’
4th April  Louisa Rigden  - ‘Regal Flowers'

With my best wishes
                 Carolyn             
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club

Happy New Year and I hope that 2024 for you will be peaceful, healthy and full of flowers and good friends. We have an excellent programme of demonstrations planned throughout the year, as well as the opportunity for all members to attend other meetings in the Area.

In January we held the AGM when we reviewed the past successful year and discussed the coming year.   In 2023 we had 84 members and many visitors during the year.   Our classes have been very well attended and the students produced some amazing designs, as well as having a very social night out.   Our funds are good due to a large membership and additional money from wedding flowers, the classes and the sales table. The Charity table raised £700, that will be presented to Noah Enterprises, Luton to help the homeless.
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Three members of the Committee retired – Ann Dowding after 40 years, Joan Tarmu after 30 years and Ann Armitage after 20 years.   Ann and Joan were presented with plants and received our grateful thanks for all their hard work on behalf of the Club.   Ann Armitage has moved to live with her daughter in Suffolk.

​I am so pleased that we have three new Committee members – Karen Harwood, Marion Wildman and Julie Abrahams. Karen will run the sales table (as Jan is also retiring), Julie will run the charity sales table, assisted by Jean Tipping and Marion will supervise the refreshments but will need members to volunteer to help.    Please sign up and remember to bring a mug to the meeting to save the washing up!

Subscriptions for 2024 will be due in February. They will remain the same as last year £45 – this includes the NAFAS affiliation fee. It will be possible for payments to be made over 3 months at £15 a month if this is easier. Bank transfers, cash and cheques are accepted . Visitors fees will remain the same at £7.

The Charity table will continue with a different theme each month. This has been popular and successful - in February the theme will be books and jigsaws.   Everyone will have the opportunity to vote on 1 February for the Charity we will support in 2024. We have had several nominations that are all based on personal health interests.

Joan has booked an excellent programme for 2024.   Most of the demonstrators are new to our Club and all details are on this site on the Programme page.
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We are planning to introduce holding a quarterly Club Competition to encourage members to gain confidence in competing and entering local shows.  There will be no obligation or pressure – just the opportunity to show off our skills and talents and it will not be formally judged. The first one will be in April, more about that later.  I look forward to seeing you on 1 February when we have Shirley Henderson with her demonstration entitled ‘In the Frame’.  In the meantime stay warm and safe.

With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club

Our Christmas demonstration by Robin White was excellent and I think everyone enjoyed the evening. It was a busy evening for the Committee but great to have such a large audience.
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Next year we have a full programme booked with lots of different demonstrators.
1 Feb Shirley Henderson – “In the frame”
7 Mar 7 Linda Seabrook – “The Welsh Highwayman"
4 Apr Louisa Rigden – “Regal Flowers”
2 May Lee Berrill – “Remember When” (Open)
6 Jun Joanna Davis – “Blooms and Tunes”
4 Jul Stephanie Laing – “Colour and Me”
(we do not have a meeting  in August)
5 Sep Wendy Goodliff – “A Stitch in Time”
3 Oct Practical Night
7 Nov Barbara Collins – “Floral Moments”
5 Dec Katherine Kear – “The 12 Days” (National)

We begin the year with our AGM on 4 January when we will reflect on the past year and discuss any changes we want for 2024. I am really pleased to say the three members have expressed an interest in joining the Committee to replace three who are retiring. This helps to share the load of responsibilities. We always welcome new members to the Committee and also willing volunteers. If you have a nomination for our Club charity for next year please let me know. We usually like to support a local one or one that has an association with a Club member. Thank you all for your support during 2023.
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Membership subscriptions will be due at the beginning of the New Year. They will remain at £45 – giving excellent value for 9 demonstrations and a practical workshop evening in October. In 2023 Clophill & District Flower Club had the largest membership in the whole of Home Counties Area of NAFAS and our members come from a wide area – from St Neots, to Leighton Buzzard, to Luton and Bedford. At the Area AGM we were awarded The Flower Arranger Award for having the most subscriptions to the NAFAS magazine. We received a Silver Salver and a cheque for £25 and I thank Kate for being our Club FA Officer.

Wishing you a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a healthy, flowery New Year.
I look forward to seeing you again soon.
With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

Ann Swain led an activity on plant identification 







​Our Area AGM/Lunch/Demonstration will be on 22 November at Spotlight Theatre, Broxbourne.   In the morning a short AGM will be held followed by a seasonal buffet lunch. There will be a seating plan and we will sit at large round decorated tables. In the afternoon there will be demonstration by Tracey Griffin – a National Demonstrator from Hampshire and her title is ‘Snowflakes’.   Tickets are £35 and you can order them from Gillian at our Club.

On 7 December our Christmas demonstration - 'Floral Festivities' - will be by Robin White, who was Designer of the Year at the National Show in Islington. I know this will be excellent and tickets are available from  Gillian on 07960 662334 or through the contact tab on this website.

Autumn is now with us but there are still some lovely warm days to enjoy.  I think we are lucky in our part of the country as we seem to avoid the extremes of the weather that other parts receive.

I would like to announce we have a new member of our Club!!  Her name is
Rosie Bloom and I entered her into the Clophill Scarecrow Festival at the weekend.

She sat motionless all weekend and most of the time she looked asleep or ‘spaced out’
I hope you don’t feel she is a reflection on our membership and will put off new
members, as she  looks frumpy and has dreadful varicose veins!    She enjoys flowers and can arrange very well!

I hope you enjoyed Fiona Harrison’s demonstration on 7th September.   The new arrangement for refreshments went well and we will continue to use disposable cups but many of you were very thoughtful and brought their own mugs.  This made things much easier for Ann and Joan serving and then clearing up.  

Next meeting the Charity table will be ‘Anything flower arranging or floristry’ – vases, containers, sticks, fabric, mechanics, wood, bases. So if you are planning on de-cluttering please bring some donations. In November we will have ‘Anything Christmas’

On 5th October we have Sandie Draper coming to demonstrate – ‘Inspired by Nature’.   She is new to our Club but
is an experienced and talented designer.   
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Then in November we are having a different type of evening as we have Corinne Price, a speaker coming to talk about garden design and restoration. She has been head gardener at Wrest Park and the Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth and her illustrated talk is ’The Swiss Garden – A Regency Gem’.   I am sure it will be of interest to many of our members.

Our members won prizes at the Houghton Conquest Show and at the Shefford Craft and Produce Show.   Well done to those who entered.

Our Area AGM/Lunch/Demonstration will be on 22nd November at Spotlight Theatre, Broxbourne. In the morning a short AGM will be held followed by a seasonal buffet lunch. There will be a seating plan and we will be sat at large round decorated tables. In the afternoon there will be demonstration by Tracey Griffin – a National Demonstrator from Hampshire and her title is ‘Snowflakes’. Tickets are £35 and you can order them from Gillian at our Club.

In December our Christmas demonstration will be by Robin White, who was Designer of the Year at the National Show in Islington. I know this will be excellent and tickets will be available from Gillian at the next two meetings.

Ann Swain and I are planning some new flower arranging classes, catering for beginners and more experienced, starting on 12th October. If you are interested please let me know.  I will have registration forms at our next meeting with all the details or if you are not able to be at next week's meeting send a message via the 'Contact' on this site.

I hope to see you on 5th October.   With my best wishes,
Carolyn        

Well the Summer is almost over but I am looking forward to the Autumn with warm days and lots of changing colours. We didn’t have a meeting in August, although the Committee had a very social afternoon tea in my garden and the sun shone all the time – in fact I was worried it was going to be too hot! We held a short committee meeting but mostly it was chatting, eating and drinking!

I think most people enjoyed Rekha Naidoo’s demonstration in July as her designs were very colourful and different as they reflected her Indian culture.

Next month on 7th September we have Fiona Harrison demonstrating at our club for the first time. She is one of the ‘rising stars’ in our Area as she enjoys entering shows, as well as demonstrating and teaching. Her title is ‘The Golden Age of Ocean Travel’. Fiona won a First prize at the recent National Show and awards at Blenheim Palace, Hampton Court and Hylands House shows. I am sure we will have a good evening.

The Charity table is very successful and the Committee have decided to have books again as the theme next Thursday as we still have a lot in the cupboard. If you want to donate some new stock please bring it along.

The Committee are aware that as we have 85 members + visitors it makes a lot of washing up from serving the tea and coffee, so we have decided that we will use disposable cups (recyclable) or if you wish to bring your own mug we will fill it up for you! We want to be eco- friendly but we want to be fair to Joan and Ann our hostesses so that they are not stuck in the kitchen. If you are able to offer help with serving please let them know.

At Barton Village Show Sunday 23rd July I was delighted that one of our new members Felicity Pinner entered two classes and gained two First Prizes. Well done Felicity for having the courage to enter a competition and creating two lovely designs. Don’t forget the Shefford Craft and Produce Show on 9th September – details in my last newsletter.

Last month I sent details of A Special Area Day on 3rd October, to be held in Wheathampstead. The day will be full of activities relating to floral art where all members have to chance to learn more about the Principles and Elements of Design from several experienced tutors who will teach you how they relate to our arrangements, demonstrating and competitions. Please think about coming as I am sure you will enjoy the day. Please ask Celia or me for a registration form at the Club meeting.
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Advance Notice. Our Area AGM/Lunch/Demonstration will be on 22nd November at Spotlight Theatre, Broxbourne.

I hope to see you on 7th September.   With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club