A new video is available on the NAFAS YouTube Channel on using a pinholder.  

Programme Secretary Meeting
Wednesday 22 April 2020 Village Hall, off Bull Lane, Boughton under Blean  ME13 9AH
 
An Invitation to All Clubs Programme SecretariesThe meeting will be held during the Council meeting which starts at 10am (doors open at 9.30am for coffee or tea (50p), a chance to buy raffle tickets and maybe make a purchase from the Sales Table.)
 
At 11am the Programme Secretaries will adjourn to a separate room for their meeting with Susan Shaw (Judges Representative) and me.  It will be a chance to talk about the important role of the Programme Secretary, the positives as well as the perils and pitfalls and ways to make everyone’s life easier. And to ensure that you and your Club Committee are up to date with the way things should be done in an ideal world.
 
It will be ideal if each Club can send a representative to this informal meeting – if the Programme Secretary cannot attend then a Committee member or someone who is willing to share all the information gleaned at this meeting with the rest of the Committee and Club members will be very welcome.  Of course, anyone who is new to the role of Programme Secretary or is about to take it on (or thinking about!) is especially welcome to join us at the meeting.
 
Please bring your Kent Area List (the one with the pink cover) to the meeting and any notes you have about being Programme Secretary.  And any questions or suggestions you have too!
 
I look forward to seeing you there.  If you wish to contact me before (or after) this meeting please do get in touch.
 
Sue Thompson     sue.thompson55@btinternet.com  01892 836834
(Demonstrators Representative for Kent Area – JDSE&P Committee)

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Evelyn Mercer who has been a stalwart of NAFAS generally and specifically of Kent Area for many years.
 
Evelyn Farish was born in March 1932 in Bromley.  When war came along, Evelyn was evacuated to Headcorn where she went to school before moving, at the age of 11, to Queenswood School in Hertfordshire where she excelled in music and was offered a place at The Royal College of Music.  Unfortunately, due to parental pressure, Evelyn turned down the offer but went on to complete a secretarial course and became PA to the Chairman of J Walter Thompson.
 
In 1952 she married Nicholas Mercer and two sons were born in 1956 and 1961.  When her sons went to boarding school she joined Sevenoaks Flower Club which provided an outlet for her creative talents.  Not content with being a “member”, Evelyn was very much an active member and was President twice.  She was active not only in the club but in the Kent Area becoming Chairman and then President.  She then went on to join the NAFAS national committee and became National President.  As President, she represented NAFAS at the World Show in South Africa.
 
Evelyn’s love of flowers and flower arranging took her far and wide.  She enjoyed demonstrating both at home and abroad and this took her as far afield as the USA.   She arranged flowers on many occasions at Westminster Abbey and St Pauls and was involved in the flowers for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and subsequently that of the Duke and Duchess of York.
 
Additionally, she put on many flower festivals, particularly at Leeds Castle, Lambeth Palace, Hever Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Penshurst Place always raising money for charity.  She was also part of a 10 man team from Kent Area which competed at Chelsea and won a gold medal. 
 
A great friend of Julia Clements she worked with her on the annual Floral lunch at The Savoy Hotel which raised money for an Armed Forces Charity.   Guests included Princess Diana and Princess Margaret
 
Evelyn became a member of the Gardeners Livery Company and was a Freeman of the City of London.  During the In 1980s she took exams to become a Tourist Guide specialising in taking Americans around gardens in the South of England.  She went on to be a blue badge guide showing people around London, specialising in historical buildings, Westminster Abbey, St Pauls and the Tower of London.
 
Evelyn loved flower arranging, her club - Sevenoaks, her area - Kent and NAFAS.  She will be missed by everyone who came into contact with her.

The Memorial Service for Evelyn Mercer will be held on Friday 24th January at St Mary’s Church, Kippington Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2LL at 2.00 pm.  The family is proposing that it should be a joyful occasion in celebration of Evelyn’s life.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Freddie Shaw.  

As Area Treasurer Freddie took over from Pat Hume in 2008 under the then chairman, Christine Thomas, he then worked with Linda Clatworthy and finally Marilyn Marsh before handing over the reins to Michelle Sinclaire.  However, he continued to act as the independent scrutineer of the accounts, a role he continued until 2017.

Whilst it has been said that the treasurer does not have to be a flower arranger this did not hold true for Freddie who, having supported Iris in many competitions as the gopher, accepted the challenge and enjoyed taking part in the Novice class, becoming a familiar face at both the Kent Area and County shows. He also accompanied Iris to many of her demonstrations and got involved in helping with the Junior Flower Club, Hadlow Flower Power.

In 2015 when the Area was in need of a new place to store Area equipment Freddie generously came to our rescue and offered a clean, dry section of his engineering works which even had electricity available and somewhere to repair and build under cover! A great improvement on the previous venue.

Freddie also supported the Kent Area Show by sponsoring the Club Class for a number of years and his large car proved a great help on many occasions to move equipment between the shows and the Store, a great saving to the Area meaning there was no need to hire a van.

We have lost a kind friend who gave generously of his time and expertise to NAFAS and above all was a real gentleman.

Entries are now being invited from clubs who would like to take part in the Inter-Club & Judge It Yourselves Competitions which this year has the delicious title "Floralicious".  The details of the competition can be found on the JDSE&P page of this website - click here    

We have received the below information from the RHS
 
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 Floristry & Floral Design Competition


Dear NAFAS members,
The RHS Chelsea Team want to let you know of an exciting change that will be taking place at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020.
We are delighted to announce that we are combining the Chelsea Florist / Young Florist of the Year, and Floral Arranger competitions.
This new area celebrating the beauty of floral design will be found in the Great Pavilion, where we are offering four themes, and two staging platforms to choose from.
The application process will be changing slightly from previous years and will open to all floral designers both amateur and professional. The application process will involve uploading a drawing of your design, a brief description, and photo(s) of your previous work. Exhibitors will be allocated on the merit of their application.
We wish you the best of luck in your application.

More details can be found by following these links.

https://view.publitas.com/rhs-2/cfs-floristry-why-exhibit/page/1

https://view.publitas.com/rhs-2/cfs20-floristry-competition-factsheet/page/1

​https://rhsforms.formstack.com/forms/cfs20_florist_competition_form

Note the closing date for applications is ​Friday 29 November

At the AGM, the schedule for the Kent Area Show was launched by new area show chairman Mig Kimpton.  The title of the show is Colour Revolution and we should have a spectacular show to celebrate the diamond anniversary of Kent Area.  You can get a copy of the schedule through your club or download it from the Area Show page of this website by clicking here

On 6th November 2019 the Area AGM took place at Ditton.  
The minutes will be circulated in due course but in the meantime the following changes in Executive and Advisors took place.

Cecilia Sleap was appointed as Vice Chair Elect
Lesley Potter retired as East Kent Rep
Jenny Nye retired as Judges Rep and was Sue Shaw was appointed
Shirley Davis retired as Area Show Chairman and Mig Kimpton was appointed
KM Williams was appointed as Editor of Kent News

We thank everyone retiring for their service and thank those who have come forward to take up positions.  We still have vacancies for a treasurer and a minute secretary.  If you are interested in joining the happy team then please contact the Area Chairman Jean Schofield.

The AGM was followed by a fabulous demonstration by the innovative Gill McGregor

As previously reported Robin represented Kent Area in the Designer of the Year competition.  The competition was run under the title “Timeless Beauty” and Robin chose Charles Rennie MacIntosh for his inspiration. After 3 gruelling days in which he had to create a pedestal, a wall hanging, a petite, a still life and do an imposed class, Robin’s hard work was finally announced as the winner and Robin was presented with the trophy by Sue Brinton Nafas National Chairman. 

We felt it was appropriate for Kent Area to recognise this amazing achievement and so at the AGM Area Chairman, Jean Schofield, presented Robin with a gift.  Like Robin, the Area took Charles Rennie MacIntosh as the theme, but this beauty is not “timeless” as Robin was presented with a Charles Rennis MacIntosh designed watch with our love.  The watch is inscribed on the back and it says “you did us proud” which you did so on behalf of us all many many congratulations.  

As Robin came to the stage there was a well deserved standing ovation.​

You may have seen posts on Facebook about the Chelsea Flower Show and whether there will be a flower arranging section or just "floristry".  The below clarification has been received from Steven Lane, NAFAS CEO

Have you seen your Flower Arranger magazine yet?  

Lots of great ideas for Christmas, many of which by Kent Area Designers.  Look out for designs by Helen Hare, Anne Luckett, Vicki Hodgkiss, Jacqui Arnold and Gill Smaggasgale which were all photographed in Jacqui's beautiful home.  

There is also a report about Robin's win of Designer of the Year.
​Happy reading!

In this the Diamond Anniversary of NAFAS, Kent Area were delighted to decorate the Queens Bathroom of Leeds Castle for their flower festival.  The design by Gill Smaggasgale was entitled "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend" and the diamond motif was repeated throughout the design.  Pam Hayward, Cecilia Sleap, Gill Smaggasgale and Jean Schofield spent two exhausting days creating the design using some fabulous flowers in the colour scheme of soft grey, soft lilac and soft pick and white with accents of blue in the bath and flame colours for the fire.

Pam made some exquisite jewellery to go with the dress Gill had made and shoes decorated by Cecilia which completed the idea of someone getting ready for a party.  Some photos of the finished design and a close up of the window and fireplace are below.  More photographs can be found on the gallery page