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 info@kentfloralart.co.uk

Picture just for attention and colour

A new feature at On The Catwalk! was a people's choice award. It was amazing that over 1200 people voted! It was also fabulous that every exhibit in the show received at least one vote so each competitor's design touched someone!

In first place with a whopping 158 votes was the dress dubbed the "Princess Dress" by one little girl created by Marion Matharu and Angela Harnedy.  In second place with 144 votes was the "daring" dress by Sue Zacharias and Anna Ardolino.  In third place with 91 votes was the dress that many people said reminded them of a Thai costume by Jacqui Simms & Jean Hoar.  In fourth place for her exhibit in "Natural Style" was Valerie Frewin with 84 votes.  In fifth place with 64 votes was Zoe Hawkins' stylish hat.  

Thank you to all the public who voted.  Photographs by Pauline Pearce

​We were delighted to make an extra special award this year to Zoe Hawkins of Herne Bay. Zoe has been an inspiration to us all for many years with her contemporary designs. Zoe has been given a Lifetime Achievement for Competition Work Award. Congratulations Zoe.
Photographs by Pauline Pearce

Congratulations to all who entered and especially  the following who scooped the top prizes. Full results on the Whats On Page under Area Show.
Best in Show:                                     Helga Cukure (class7)
Runner Up to Best in Show:            Jacqui Simms (class 9)
Most Innovative Design:                  Jean Hoar, Jacqui Simms (class 10)
Best Use of Colour:                           Carole Springett (class 6)
Best Use of Garden Plant Material: Val Frewin (class 11)
Best Craft Exhibit:                             Jacqui Simms (class 9)
Novice & Flower Arranger Award: Helen Collins (class 2)
Judge's Choice:                                  Agnes Darmoo (class 3)
People's Choice                                  to be voted for during the show
Club with Most Entries:                    Rainham Flower Club

Four intrepid members of Kent Floral Art set off to the National Show in Gloucester.  We are very proud to announce that Cicely Finnis of Dover club achieved a second place in the class "Celebrating Courage", Mig Kimpton also of Dover was awarded highly commended  in "A Feast for the Eye" and commended in "Rejoice".  Nicola and Verity of Prior entered the petite class "Richly Woven"

Sue Shaw produced a fabulous talk at the National Show in Gloucester Cathedral. Several members of Kent Floral Art were present in the audience. Cecilia Sleap (Vice Chairman) said "Sue kept the audience at Gloucester Cathedral captivated with her talk about Beatrix Potter’s ‘Tailor of Gloucester’…. a fitting subject. Sue took us through the origins of the stories, giving us snippets of little known information with humour, and a mysterious twist!"
Congratulations Sue.

Well done to Helen for having two of her designs on the 2024 NAFAS Calendar

Members of Kent Floral Art produced regal designs to celebrate the Coronation and National Flower Arranging Day.  To see all of the designs go to the Gallery page of this website

Congratulations to Margaret Smith of Deal & District who is the overall winner of the competition and is awarded the Carolyn Raisbeck Trophy.  Margaret, entering the show for the first time, won 1st prize in Class 4 "Wonderful Foliage" and Class 5 "Reflections", 2nd prize in Class 1 and 3rd prize in Class 3 and the most points.  Her photographs are below.  Well done Margaret

For full details of the results visit the Photography page and to see all the photographs which achieved awards to the Gallery page