A FLOWER club’s first meeting in 18 months was particularly memorable as it coincided with its 50th anniversary.
Having been unable to meet since January last year because of the pandemic, members of Dalton Flower Club were delighted to get together for the first-time in a year-and-a-half last week.
Fittingly, the floral arrangement theme was “golden” to mark the occasion.
The group met at Hutton Magna Village Hall.
Chairwoman Marion Lewis, who has been with the club for 42 years and has served as its leader for about three decades, said: “We used to meet at Dalton and Gayle Village Hall until they double booked us.
“It wasn’t our fault, it was theirs, but it was easy for us to rearrange a venue.”
Popular with the meeting’s theme many members had chosen to include sunflowers in their evening’s arrangements, some of which they had grown at home.
Mrs Lewis said it had been a good growing season and about half of the flowers she would usually use in her arrangement were from her own garden. She said it was “brilliant” to get together again. Mrs Lewis added: “They are a lovely group of people. We do it for the social aspect as much as for the flower arranging.”
The group did not have any formal meetings by digital channels like other groups during lockdown, but informally kept in touch online, Mrs Lewis said.
The evening was marked by the cutting of a special anniversary cake baked by club treasurer Christine Duke.
The club’s August meeting will be a workshop by professional flower arranger Patti Dawson, followed in September by Harriet Coates who will demonstrate autumn door wreath making.
The club will hold an open meeting in October when all are invited to enjoy Val Guest and her “autumn odyssey” demonstration.
Ravensworth Nursery will attend the November meeting and club member Dreda Forster will present a Christmas theme.
