40 years of success for Devizes Flower Club

Last year marked the 40th anniversary for the group. Until 1980, those interested in floral arranging had to travel to Chippenham.

That was until Julia Head suggested a dedicated Devizes group, and very quickly a committee was formed to make that dream a reality.

Originally, the group met at a hall within the St James Hospital, but these days meetings are held within the Town Hall.

Over the last 40 years, the club has hosted a huge number of exciting events as well as major fundraisers for local charities.

Devizes Flower Club

Members have travelled across the West Country and beyond for events, including to competitions across the globe.

Last week, the group held their second gathering this year since the relaxation of Covid rules.

Nick Heal from Bridgewater was the demonstrator for the evening, with all of his arrangements based around the theme of ‘Summer Inspiration.’ With access to the Somerset Levels he had a good supply of willow and used this to create interesting baskets and containers for his work. He had woven a globe and hand-held frame prior to the visit and made two simple but effective arrangements which some members were keen to try and copy later.

When asked as a nine-year-old year old boy what he wanted for Christmas he had said “A field to grow more flowers in” and 20 years later he had one.

From the last meeting

Members said they were impressed by the fact that he had grown most of the flowers himself.

There were several visitors who were lucky in the raffle and could be seen returning to their cars with Nick’s wonderful arrangements. People at the meeting were also lucky to enjoy home made cakes made by Sue King.

Chair person Christine Marshall said: “Coming together again really does feel amazing. We all really missed the meetings. We didn’t do Zoom or anything during lockdown, it just wouldn’t have been the same.

“It’s a really friendly club and there’s always lots of chances to socialise and learn a lot.

“We have large event coming up on November 17 and everyone is welcome to come along and find out more about the club. Pam Lewis will be giving a demonstration and there’s also usually a nice glass of wine and a mince pie, it’s a really nice night.”

Pam has been a long-standing member of the Devizes Flower Club and said it was a “brilliant” group of people to be surrounded by.

“My mum made me go to a floral arranging lesson when I was at school, said Pam, who lives in Worton.

“I ended up really enjoying it, I got hooked.

Devizes Flower Club

“And I was lucky I was able to do this in the eighties and nineties when it was just thriving, I’ve been all over. It is really fun and such a great group of people.”

Jennifer Macey, publicity officer of the club, said: “I moved to Devizes 11 years ago, when I retired. I didn’t know anyone and was invited along to the flower club. I wouldn’t normally have thought about it, being a ‘plonk them in a vase’ sort of person, but the club suits the experienced and the beginners and is very friendly.

"I particularly enjoy the ‘hands on’ workshops and have been shown how to make hand tied arrangements, buttonholes, Christmas table centres and many more.”

For more information ring 01380 723239 or see Devizes Flower Club on Facebook.