Findon flower festival makes a comeback

CHURCH members celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Findon Flower Festival at the weekend by bringing the event back after a five year break.

The flower show – co-organised by Dorothy Barber and Barbara Stibbs, was held in Findon’s St John the Baptist Church. The three-day event attracted more than 750 visitors.

Mrs Barber said: “It was wonderful. It’s the 50th year since the first flower festival so it seemed like the ideal time to do something to celebrate that. We don’t have it every year because it’s a big undertaking.

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“The highlight was just hearing so many visitors saying how much they enjoyed it and comparing us favourably with Chichester, which had their festival the week before. There were some lovely words left in the guest book.”

WH 070614  Barbara Stibbs with a floral arrangementWH 070614  Barbara Stibbs with a floral arrangement
WH 070614 Barbara Stibbs with a floral arrangement

More than £1,500 was raised over the weekend from donations, refreshments and craft stall sales. The money will go towards the upkeep of the church.

“The idea was not that it was a money-maker but to a showcase our lovely church and the ladies who have such wonderful talents within the church,” said Mrs Barber.

Fourteen women were involved in the floral arrangements.

Each woman was given a £25 budget for their arrangements with the theme of anniversaries – from paper through to gold. According to Mrs Barber, many of the amateur florists exceeded their budgets and made the rest up with money from their own pockets.

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Mrs Barber said: “Barbara and I were absolutely delighted with the way all the ladies worked together and the sort of friendly banter you get.”

Mrs Stibbs added: “It was a great success and the weather was perfect. We had so many people come to the church who hadn’t been there before. The aim was to get people to enjoy being in the church.”

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