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

​ 'Autumn Glory’ was the title of the floral demonstration given by Alan Smith at the September meeting of Clophill and District Flower Club.  He created six beautiful designs, 5 of which incorporated Autumn colours depicted by sunflowers, lilies, dahlias, carnations, gerbera, wild clematis, anthuriums and teasels to name but a few.  The sixth design was a ‘special’ to celebrate our Sapphire Anniversary during the Covid lockdown but which we celebrated earlier this year as 45+1.  The sapphire blue was created by use of tall blue gentians, purple lisianthus and carnations and blue hydrangea all displayed in a deep blue earthenware pot.

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​​Throughout the demonstration, Alan was his usual bubbly self, telling us of his experiences since becoming involved with NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arranging Societies) in the 1970’s, his travels to the USA and to the World Show in Barbados and the many people he has met on his travels and through his keen competitive spirit at National and local shows.  Alan has been a favourite and regular demonstrator at our club but this, sadly, was his last visit as he is retiring – we all wish him well.

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​As with all good demonstrators, Alan passed on lots of tips on design – the use of structure, appropriate setting, driftwood, the use of recession of shorter flowers pushed deep into a design to give depth, placement of focal flowers and the preparing/conditioning of plant and flower material before use. 

Did you know that gerberas only like being in shallow water – in deep water they build up bacteria on the stems and die.

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​​Foliage for the designs was provided by Alan and also flower club members from their gardens – aspidistra, fatsia, bergenia, ivy and hosta to name but a few.
 
As always, the designs were raffle prizes at the end of the evening, the winners choosing the design they wanted – or were able to carry home.




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Visitors are always welcomed at our meetings.  On 3 November, we have Theresa Rodrigues with her demonstration entitled ‘Gardens by the Bay’ and then for our 1 December Open Evening we have Lee Berrill with his demonstration entitled ‘Made for Xmas’. 

​ For further information, see our website www.clophillflowerclub.com