Members really enjoyed our August meeting. It was a tremendous meeting and a lot of  our members, friends and colleugues from other Flower clubs attended. We had a Demonstration from our talented Robin White and the meeting was such fun with his humour and his  skills in Floral Art were shown so well . I understand that he is retiring from doing Demos. We called the meeting 'A Tribute to Robin White' and one of my colleagues had written a little poem about him to thank him for his forty years service.

Best in Show and Most Innovative design
Mig Kimpton, Dover Flower Club (Class 6) 'Where Butterflies Thrive'

Runner Up to Best In Show,
Pat White, Maidstone & Wateringbury Flower Clubs,
Class 1 Turbulent Water a cascade exhibit

Best Use of Colour:
Iris Shaw (Class 4)
Best Use of Garden Plant Material: 
Jacqui Arnold (Class 6)
Best Craft Exhibit: 
Helen Armstrong (Class 9)
Novice & Flower Arranger Award:
Joy Bishop (Class 10)
Judge's Choice:
Helen Hare (Class 3)
Club with the Most Entries
Rainham Flower Club
People's Choice Award:
Jacqui Arnold (Class 6)  Where Butterflies Thrive

For images of all the arrangements please  head to the Gallery section of the website!

Find out more about demonstrating at our fun interactive day.

A Spring Gathering
Kent Floral Art's Spring Gathering, organised by the JDSE&P Committee, was a fun-filled day. In the morning we were entertained by Bronda Dossett, a NAFAS national speaker, who had us all laughing and even dancing with her 'Tales from Downton Abbey'. After lunch we were mesmerised by the talent and beautiful floral designs created by the Gill McGregor, a NAFAS National Teacher and author, who is known internationally for her creative designs and demonstrations. 
Visit https://www.kentfloralart.co.uk/gallery.html to view all the images.

Photographs were taken by Pauline Pearce and have been published with kind permission from Bronda Dossett and Gill McGregor.

Sue Shaw and Lesley Iannidinardo ran a successful training day called Speak Up for Flowers aiming to build confidence.  Every one had a fun day and thoroughly enjoyed another opportunity for Friendship Through Flowers

Please find a letter sent by Jean Griffin from the Radio Kent programme `The Pat Marsh Show` Sunday 10 to 12 noon.
Radio Kent advertise the Area's Shows etc and has been a  very good friend  for many years.
I hope you will do your very best to help Jean and keep the programme for years to come.
 
Due to the reorganisation of the programmes many Kent listeners have switched off as the first few shows had MUSIC interspersed and the show was dropped from 4 to 1 hour ! , After some negotiation I have managed to get an hour and a half without the dreaded music but the message is still not out there so wonder if you could help by getting the message through to the floral art members . I strongly believe that we MUST keep Gardening in Local Radio, the programme now covers Kent ,Surrey and Sussex  so am working on the  other two counties too but there seems to be a better take up from them rather than Kent so… a plea to ask how to go about it please ?
Hope your New Year will prove a good gardening one !
Jean

Kent representatives were given the opportunity to arrange all the  Flowers for the Service of Remembrance which took place on 12th November at 10.30 a.m. Here are some photos of their efforts

Our New Honorary Member, Marilyn Marsh at the High Altar

Anna Ardolino from Herne BayFlower Arrangers and new East Kent Rep

Dee Hickman from Ashford Flower Club, the Flower Arranger Magazine Organiser  Quire flowers

Opposite Quire Flowers, Pam Hayward  Media Officer

Gill Smaggasgale , retiring Chairman, from Sevenoaks Flower Club, arranged the flowers by the entrance to the West Door

Marion Townsley from Dover Club brought her own variegated pittosporum to complement the flowers and foliage provided. It made a fabulous arrangement in the centre of the Abbey

Members of Kent Floral Art organised and took part in the flower arranging competition at the Kent County Show.  As usual our members produced fabulous designs which wowed the public.  Jean Hoar, Helga Cukure and Cecilia Sleap demonstrated what to do with a supermarket bunch of flowers and we put on workshops for the children who visited our area.  Thanks go to everyone who organised, entered and stewarded.  The photograph is a collage produced by Helen Armstrong of Wateringbury Flower Club which won the Judge's Choice Award.  Photographs of all the designs can be found on the gallery page of the website

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Elham?

Kent Floral Art Club day took place in the delightful village of Elham near Canterbury. Despite the heat we had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the day, catching up with friends, shopping opportunities and a great day of entertainment. In the morning we were entertained and informed by Brenda Eyres with a talk entitled "If you Want to Get Ahead..... Get a Hat!". Following our packed lunches in the garden of the hall enjoying the scenery, we were completely wowed by the extremely talented Mark Entwistle who had travelled from Cheshire to be with us. Mark's gentle style, fabulous designs and generosity of tips and information meant that the audience leapt to their feet for an extended standing ovation.

Photographs were taken by Pauline Pearce and have been published with kind permission from Brenda Eyres and Mark Entwistle.

Frindsbury recently said bon voyage to their lovely chairman Avril Lake.  Avril has been a member of the Frindsbury Floral Art Group for over 40 years and the chairman for nearly 30 years.  We join the club in wishing her good things for her move to the south coast with her family. All her 'girls' in Frindsbury will miss her hugely, especially her wisdom and gentle encouragement.

Do you like shopping? Do you have an eye for what would sell?

​We are looking for someone, or a team of people, to take on area trading. It involves choosing the stock, ordering, liaising with the area treasurer, laying out the trading stall at area events, serving the customers and storing the stock between events. If you are interested, please contact Gill Smaggasgale either directly or via [email protected]

Picture just for attention and colour