Clophill & District Flower Club

22/01/2026

A message from Carolyn to all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - January newsletter 2026

Another year has begun and this year will mark the 50th Anniversary of our Club. It seems amazing when I remember the first meeting in 1976 held in the old School Hall when Barbara Hudson, our first Chairman, gave the first demonstration. Since then the Club has gone from strength to strength.

The AGM was held last week attended by the Committee and a few loyal members. We had reports from all the Officers who all reported that 2025 was another successful year. We had 76 members, the finances were stable, in spite of increased costs, and we had some really good demonstrations and a great Dabble Evening. It was agreed to make a donation £800 to MND Association from our charity fund and thanks was given to everyone who supported the Charity stall during the year.
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We will be voting at our next meeting for the charity for 2026. We have three nominations and members will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite. The theme of the Charity table in February will be Unwanted Gifts.

The subscription for 2026 was approved to increase it to £50 a year to cover increased rent charges and flower allowances for the demonstrators and an increase in NAFAS affiliation fees that have been imposed on us. This is still excellent value to belong to an active and friendly club with 10 demonstrations during the year. You can pay by cash/cheque in Jan, Feb or March to join or we can give you details to be able pay by BACS to Clophill & District Flower Club. The visitors fee will be £8 per visit.

We have welcomed two new members on to the Committee – Nicky Olden and Alicia Leverett, who will take over some of the roles of responsibility. Kate Smith has now stood down after many years on the Committee. Thank you so much Kate.

Next meetings:
5 February A demonstration by Violeta Burgess with ‘My Way’

5 March Lorraine Gagan is returning to demonstrate ‘Into the Wardrobe’
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24 March PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DAY AND DATE to avoid Easter and availability of the hall.
This is an Open Meeting with Mark Entwhistle returning to demonstrate ‘How to be a Diva’. Mark is an International and Area demonstrator who comes from the North West.

Home Counties Area are holding another Virtual Competition 'Winter to Spring’. This is an excellent opportunity for you to do an arrangement at home and when you are happy with it, take a photograph and then submit it. Our Club were very successful last time – let’s see if we can repeat it this time! If you would like to enter contact one of the committee at the Club for more details.

There will be a Members' Day on 28 April with a talk and demonstration by Lucy Ellis at the Marford Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead. The Area Show and Competition will be there on 26th September.

With my best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club

30/10/2025

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - October Newsletter

We had a committee meeting last week when we had long discussions on future meetings and events. They are always very social occasions as we are friends and each member contributes. That is why we are a great team as each plays an important role.

We all agreed that the Dabble Evening went very well and all who attended, including 15 visitors enjoyed the varied crafts. In fact some members said it was their favourite meeting of the year! Nine of our members attended the Area Fun Day on Tuesday, this week in Wheathampstead when we ‘dabbled’ at leaf manipulation with Gill McGregor and created foliage designs.

Our demonstrator at our next meeting on 6th November is Lynne Sharp with her ‘Car Boot Collection’. This should be an entertaining evening and we will see what Lynne has found at car boot sales in the Midlands. The theme of the Charity Table is ‘Christmas’ so if you have any contributions, please bring them to add to the stall. We are introducing Gift Aid forms for MND Association to support your donations.

Area AGM and Christmas demonstration is on 19th November at the Marford Memorial Hall in Wheathampstead. Tickets are £26 available from Celia, who is on our committee and greets you at the door. This should be a great day and the demonstrator, Delyth Price, is excellent.

Our Christmas demonstration is on 4th December with Debbie Davis from Warrington. This is an Open Meeting so you will need to have a ticket and these are now available from Gillian (07960 662334) - £6 for members and £12 for visitors. Mulled wine and our famous mince pies made by Joan T will be served at the beginning of the meeting. The Charity Tables will be selling candles.

The Flower Arranger magazine is the official NAFAS publication and can be ordered through the Club. Subscriptions for members are £17, which is good value for 4 issues that are packed with ideas, articles and information for all those who love flowers. Please see Kate or Alison to order for 2026.

St Mary’s Church, Clophill is holding a Christmas Tree Festival on 6/7th December and we will be decorating several trees for this event. Seasonal refreshments will be served and there will be music played throughout the weekend.

2026 is our Golden Anniversary Year that we will be celebrating in June with a dinner and special meeting.
Please note our Open meeting in 2026, usually held in May, will be on Tuesday 24th March as we have had problems with our booking for the hall and we have tried to avoid Easter.
The Committee have other special events planned – further details later.

I hope to see you on 6th November,

With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

15/08/2025

A message from Carolyn
To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - August 2025 Newsletter

Summer is here with time to relax in the garden, except at times it is too hot. I seem to spend a lot of time watering and checking that I haven’t lost any precious plants due to this dry weather. We don’t have a Club meeting in August but the Committee always meet for Afternoon Tea in a garden. We met last week in Gillian’s lovely garden and the temperature was perfect. It gave us chance to chat, as well as discussing plans for the future.

Next Month on 4th September we have Clare Allen coming to show us ‘Stepping into Autumn’. Clare hasn’t been to us since 2016, so it'll be good to see her again. The Charity Table is doing very well this year and in September the theme will be Gloves, Scarves and Umbrellas – ready for Autumn!

On 4th October we will be having one of our popular Dabble Evenings, when you will have the opportunity to try several different crafts and activities – all flower related and all the materials will be provided. You just need to bring a pair of scissors. These evenings are always very social so even if you don’t want to ‘have a go’ please come and support those who are and enjoy watching!

In November and December we have two other demonstrators who are new to our Club but I have seen ‘on my travels’.

Next year is a special year for our Club as it is our Golden Anniversary and we will be celebrating in June with a dinner for all members and an illustrated talk on jewellery by a goldsmith from Norwich. 50 years and still going from strength to strength!

September and October is the time for Flower Festivals and local Horticultural Shows. Look out for the posters and banners as it is always a chance to get ideas and admire other arrangers’ creations.

In July I explained to members that we have been informed by NAFAS that they intend to increase the Affiliation Fees next year and that there has been very active objections, letters and phone calls to Headquarters and the Board of Trustees. It appears that they have now taken note and have called a special meeting for Area Representatives in September to discuss this. At last, they seem to be getting the message that they need to support members and clubs as we are the foundation of the organisation. We will have to wait and see but I can assure you that Clophill and District Flower Club will always give you good value and a lively Club.

I hope to see you in September. Enjoy the sunshine.
Best wishes from Carolyn

24/04/2025

To all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - April 2025 Newsletter

I hope you had a lovely Easter and enjoyed the sunshine – until Easter Monday!! I always think this is an exciting time in the garden as everything is coming to life and you notice things you had forgotten about and plan for more things to come.

Our last meeting 3rd April when we had Arnaud Metairie was a really super evening. He is such a talented designer and is also very entertaining. There was lots of praise for him and I am sure Joan will put him on the list to book again.

Next week on 1st May is our Open Meeting with a special demonstration ‘ A Splash of Colour’ by Emily Broomhead from Salisbury. This will also be a super evening. There are still tickets available -£6 for members and £12 for visitors. Please contact Gillian, or the Contact tab on our website, if you need a ticket or one for a friend. The Charity table theme is Lotions, Creams and Cosmetics.

10th May is the Clophill Church and Village Fete and we always have a plant stall to support our charity fund. We would like to have donations of plants, seedlings, cutting or anything for the garden you can spare. You can bring them to the Club or take them to a Committee Member or bring them on the day to St Mary’s Church. Thank you.

Area Members' Day is on 29th April at the Marford Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead when the speaker in the morning is Simone Squire and the National Demonstrator is Alison Penno with ‘Floral Idols’. There will be a buffet lunch and tickets are £25. This should be an excellent day and the venue is easy to get to and the parking is good.

I am attaching details of the Area Virtual Competition – Aspects of Summer’. This is an opportunity to do an arrangement in your own time, take a photograph of it and submit it to Sue Calver , Area Media Team.

See you soon.
With my best wishes,

Carolyn
Clophill & District Flower Club

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HOME COUNTIES AREA OF NAFAS

A warm invitation to all our members to enter the Virtual Floral Design Competition, entitled “Aspects of Summer”

This is your opportunity to be imaginative and creative in interpreting the title ‘Aspects of Summer’.

Your entry should be no larger than
60cm wide by 60cm depth, height optional

Judged to the NAFAS Competitions Manual 4th Edition 2023

Entries should be photographed against a plain background and in good light and submitted to:

Sue Calver on [email protected] by
no later than 2 July 2025.

27/03/2025

To all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - March 2025 Newsletter

At our March Meeting we presented the local MND Association with our donation of £700. We asked Catherine Wiles, the daughter-in-law of Julie who is really suffering from this dreadful disease. The money will be used to support the victims and carers in different ways, I have received a letter of thanks from Julie’s son Richard that he asked to be passed on to you all. I am delighted to say we at the Club have adopted the same charity for 2025.

Last weekend some of our members helped with wedding flowers at Maulden and Shuttleworth House. It was a very pretty event with mixed Spring flowers. The money we earned will go into the charity fund. The theme for the charity stall is: Pots, Plants and Planters.

Our next meeting is on 3rd April when we have Arnaud Metairie demonstrating ‘Floral Fantasy’. He is an excellent and very amusing demonstrator and one you shouldn’t miss. We would also like to have a display of Easter arrangements to share ideas and to inspire everyone to have a go! Please bring an arrangement, however large or small, to create an attractive display.

Looking ahead:
On 5th April is the Houghton Conquest Horticultural Show and there is still time to put your entry form in for the Floral Art Classes.

1st May is our Open Meeting with a special demonstration ‘ A Splash of Colour’ by Emily Broomhead from Salisbury. I have seen her several times and she is one of the top designers and has been selected to demonstrate at the National show in Gloucester in September. Tickets are £6 for members and will be available at next week's meeting or via the Contact tab on our website: www.clophillflowerclub.com.

10th May is the Clophill Church and Village Fete and we always have a plant stall to support our charity fund. We would like to have donations of plants, seedlings, cutting or anything for the garden you can spare. You can bring them to the Club, take them to a Committee Member or bring them on the day to St Mary’s Church. Thank you.

Area Member’s Day is on 29th April at the Marford Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead when the speaker in the morning is Simone Squire and the National Demonstrator is Alison Penno with ‘Floral Idols’. There will be a buffet lunch and tickets are £25. This should be an excellent day and the venue is easy to get to and the parking is good.

See you soon. With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club

25/03/2025

We are looking forward to our next meeting on Thursday 3 April when Arnaud Metaire will give a floral demonstration entitled
"Floral Fantasy"

Doors open at 6.45 for prompt start at 7.30pm
​in Clophill Village Hall
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Visitors are welcome - £7 including refreshments

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DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

On 1 May we welcome National Demonstrator Emily Broomhead
with her demonstration entitled "A Splash of Colour"

Doors open at 6.45 for prompt start at 7.30pm

Tickets: Visitors £12, Members £6
(to include a glass of wine or soft drink)
available from committee members or via the Contact section of our website:

Have a love of flowers? Join us at Clophill & District Flower Club. We also create affordable wedding flowers and celebration flwers

22/02/2025

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - February 2025 Newsletter

At last, the Spring is showing signs of coming with lots of buds and Spring bulbs appearing in our gardens. When I walked in the woods near Shefford there were carpets of snowdrops and catkins on the trees and the sun was even shining!
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We had a very good audience at our last Club meeting and I think everyone enjoyed the demonstration by Rachael Borenkova. She was well organised, her designs were varied and there were 14 raffle prizes, so many ladies went home with some lovely flowers.

​At the meeting I announced that the Club had raised £700 for the local Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and that a cheque will be presented to a representative from the MNDA at our next meeting. I have invited the family of one of our members who is suffering from this dreadful illness to come to the meeting too.

On 6th March we have Theresa Rodrigues coming to entertain us with ‘Anything Goes’ – not the song, but the title of her demonstration!

If you didn’t manage to come in February you will have the opportunity to vote for the charity for 2025, but we are having a another collection of items for Baby Basics at this meeting. Baby Basics is a local charity that supports disadvantaged new mothers with vital equipment and clothes. We would like donations of new or second-hand items, both large and small. They always appreciate hand knitted items.

**Also, please remember to bring a mug for your tea/coffee for your refreshments at the meeting.

Area Member’s Day is on 29th April at the Marford Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead when the speaker in the morning is Simone Squire and the National Demonstrator is Alison Penno with ‘Floral Idols’. There will be a buffet lunch and tickets are £25. This should be an excellent day and the venue is easy to get to and the parking is good.
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Club Subscriptions can still be paid at our March and April meetings, either by cash, cheque or BACS. We have an excellent programme for this year giving you great value for money.

See you soon. With my best wishes,
Carolyn

06/01/2025

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - January 2025 Newsletter

Wishing you a very healthy and peaceful New Year full of fun, friendship and flowers.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas with friends and family. It seems a while ago as all our decorations have come down and the house looks quite bare. I must go out a buy some tulips and bring the hope of Spring.
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We had an excellent Christmas demonstration by Lucy Ellis and I hope you enjoyed the evening if you were able to be there. Lucy said what a really friendly and lively Club we are and how much she enjoyed visiting us.

We now look forward to our 2025 programme that Joan has booked for us. It is full of super demonstrations by some familiar demonstrators and some exciting new ones. One highlight will be in June when our own Doug Howard gives his Special Retirement Evening with ‘A Man for All Seasons’. Doug has been an area demonstrator for many years and has decided to ‘hang up his scissors’ with his last flourish!!

The first meeting of the year is on Thursday 9 January when we hold our Annual General Meeting. This is a social meeting when we review the past year and our successes and then plan for 2025. We always like to have suggestions from members on how to improve the Club so we welcome anyone who would like to come.

​The Treasurer will present the accounts and we will hear how much our charity stall has made for our 2024 charity: Motor Neurone Disease association. We plan for it to go to the local branch as one of our members is really suffering with this horrible disease. Thank you to all who have supported us and to Julie and Jean who have organised the stall throughout the year. We would like nominations for charities for 2025, so please let us know if you have a suggestion and we will ask members to vote at our February meeting. Julie says the theme for the Charity stall is Unwanted Christmas Presents – make sure the person who gave it to you isn’t with you!!

On 6 February we have Rachael Borenkova – ‘Let’s go to the Flower Shop’. Rachael is new to our club but has been highly recommended.
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Subscriptions are due again. It is £45 – the same a last year – you can pay by Bank Transfer, cheque or cash.
​As agreed previously, the committee will be prepared to accept the subscription in staged payments over three months if this is helpful for members.
See you soon,
With my best wishes,
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club