A message from Carolyn

20 September 2022

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

Sad News  
​Since we last met it has been a very sad and emotional time with the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, culminating with her funeral yesterday. A moment in history filled with ceremony, sorrow, pageantry and spectacle that has been compulsive to witness. It brought people together, both the great and the general public and brought out the best in us. You may be interested to know that members of NAFAS arranged the flowers in Westminster Abbey and Shane Connolly (Florist to King Charles III) created the final wreath.
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I have been informed that Alan Smith who came to demonstrate at our Club on 1st September also died about a week after coming to entertain us. He said he was retiring but this must have been very sudden. I have sent Lee Berrill, his partner, a card from us with our condolences. 

Congratulations
Congratulations to Linda O’Toole who gained a 1st Prize at Houghton Conquest and Shefford Shows.  Well done to others who entered the Floral art classes – it was a shame there were not more entries.

Linda and Ann Swain have been told that two of their Christmas designs will be featured in the next issue of The Flower Arranger.
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Wedding Flowers
Earlier this month members of our Club arranged wedding flowers in Campton.   It took two days to decorate the Church and the marquee and two teams of 8 and 9 arrangers. It is always fun to work together and meet the challenges of 22 designs in the Church including a beautiful arch around the door and 14 very large table arrangements and two large flower rings that were suspended around the marquee posts. The results were stunning, and it earned a large amount of money for the Club and our charity funds. 

​Area AGM/Lunch and Demonstration
​This is being held on 16th November at Spotlight Theatre in Broxbourne. Doors open at 10am and there will be stalls to browse before a short AGM at 11am. This will be followed by a hot two course buffet lunch and then a demonstration by Jacqui Arnold (National Demonstrator) titles ‘Jingle all the Way’. This should be a lovely day. Tickets are £36 that can be ordered at our Club and we will try to organise transport if you would like to come.

Next meeting on 6th October
Our next meeting is with our favourite Gill McGregor – ‘Floral Flair and Fantasy’. She is a very experienced and talented designer, so I hope you are able to come.

Charity Table
Scarves and jewellery will be the focus for the Charity table.   If you have any unwanted items that you think will tempt others please bring them to this meeting – on a ‘Sale or Return’ basis. So that if they are sold the money will go to our Charity fund but if they are not sold please take them home again!  This will ensure a good turnover of items.
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​The next month it will be Bags and in December we will feature Anything Christmas.

Looking forward to seeing you again,
With my best wishes,       
Carolyn        
   Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club