Romsey Flower Club holds meeting for 70th anniversary

The event was very well attended and members and their guests enjoyed shopping and hot mince pies before the demonstration began.

In honour of the Romsey club’s 70th anniversary this year, floral designer Michael Bowyer, a previous president of NAFAS the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies and creative director at Salisbury Cathedral wowed the audience by creating six different installations, some of which were made up of multiple arrangements. 

He explained the history of flower arranging and the way that fashions and styles have changed over the 70 years that the club has been running. From Constance Spry’s traffic stopping innovative shop window arrangement, through more upright contemporary parallel styles made possible through the arrival of floral foam. 

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Only one of Michael’s arrangements contained foam as he made everyone present aware of the dangers of the micro plastic content and continued his next arrangement by folding chicken wire into a container and using it to support the stems.

Julie Facey, from the club, said: "Much of the foliage used was unusual and interesting, which gave the audience lots of ideas for shrubs that could be grown in their own gardens to use in arrangements. One of the most show stopping was in a glass goblet with clouds of white painted Asparagus Fern, white roses, carnations and Calla Lilies.

"At the end of the evening, the fabulous creations were the prizes of the raffle and winners were delighted to take home such special arrangements."