The Area Historian is Tony Cleaver.
2022 - date: Sheila Drybrough, Huddersfield
2019 - 2022: Janet Ratcliffe, Halifax 2017 - 2019: Ann Harding, Steeton 2015 - 2017: Joan O'Brien, Pennine Borders 2013 - 2015: Sue Spencer, Capelle 2011 - 2013: Sheila Rodgers, Pennine Borders 2009 - 2011: Sue Maddocks, Halifax 2007 - 2009: Louise Nettleton, Headingley 2005 - 2007: Tony Cleaver, New Earswick 2003 - 2005: Margaret Peet, Halifax 2001 - 2003: Norma Dobney, Bradford 1999 - 2001: Rosalind Walker, Driffield 1997 - 1999: Pat Martin, Teesside 1995 - 1997: Eugenie Wiener, The Yorkshire 1993 - 1995: Janet Hayton, Acomb 1991 - 1993: Mary Patterson 1989 - 1991: Shirley Clegg, The Yorkshire 1987 - 1989: Muriel Spencer-Willcock 1985 - 1987: Joyce Barlow, Guisborough 1983 - 1985: Margaret Porter 1981 - 1983: Jo Thirlwall 1979 - 1981: Geraldine Hazell 1977 - 1979: Beryl Gray, Teesside 1975 - 1977: Dorothy Gray 1973 - 1975: Alice Bray 1971 - 1973: Elena Raistrick 1969 - 1971: Jo Bragg-Smith, Doncaster 1967 - 1969: Jennie Philipson 1965 - 1967: Jennie Philipson 1963 - 1965: Peggy Greenough, Bradford 1962 - 1963: Margaret Herdson 1961 - 1962: George Smith 1957 - 1963: Margaret Herdson (Founder Chairman) |
History of the North East Area
In June 1957 a meeting was convened by The Yorkshire Flower Decoration Club at the Royal Station Hotel in York to discuss the formation of a North Eastern Area Association of Flower Clubs in order to gain recognition from The Royal Horticultural Society and to have a link with other like minded Associations throughout the United Kingdom. The Floral Arrangement Association of North East England (FAANEE) was born and covered a huge area – the counties of Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland – the land between the Trent and the Tweed. In 1958 the Area was represented in the decorative tent at the Chelsea Flower Show when mixed spring flowers were used. Eight members worked with the flowers and HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, when visiting the tent, congratulated the Area Chairman and said how pleased she was to see the North represented! With the formation of NAFAS in 1959 Mrs Margaret Herdson, founder Area Chairman, served on the caretaker committee. The Area was active in bringing prominent flower arranging experts to the North. In 1957 Jocelyn Steward of the East of England headed north, in 1958 Area Competitions were held in Harrogate and Julia Clements was one of the judges, the following year a similar event was held with Constance Spry, Stella Coe and Violet Stephenson joining Julia Clements as judges. In 1965 the clubs in Northumberland and Durham formed their own group within the North East Area and two years later went to form their own Area. From the Archives : 50 Years Ago (1974)On a cold Winter morning in 1974 three weeping lime trees (Tilia tomentosa "Petiolaris") were planted at Harlow Carr Gardens, to mark ‘Plant a Tree Year’, by our Founder President Margaret Herdson, the Area President Elena Raistrick and the Area Chairman Alice Bray. They were ably assisted by Geoffrey Smith, the gardens’ Superintendent and Mrs. A Baydell of Harlow Carr. Does anyone know of the location of these three trees as there is nothing in our archives as to where they were planted? (Image below left)
An Area Judges test was held in Harrogate with five successful candidates but sadly no record of who they were. Maybe you were one of them? The Treasurer’s House in York was decorated, the theme being, ‘Flowers through the Ages’ with a buffet supper in the nearby St William’s College. Flower Festivals were also staged by The Yorkshire Flower Club in Heslington Church and Headingley Flower Club at Woodhall, near Wetherby. An Area Members Day was held on 31 October with a capacity audience at The Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens, York for morning and afternoon demonstrations. The AGM was also held in York (at the Royal Station Hotel) with Jo Bragg-Smith presiding, and Alice Bray, Area Chairman, giving a review of the year. The National Festival and Competitions was held in Harrogate in July this year organised jointly by members of the North East Area and also Northumberland & Durham Area. George Smith entertained members with ‘From all points of the Compass’. From the Archives : 25 Years Ago (1999)This was a busy year beginning with a Club Officers Day in March when the National Chairman, Judy Wynn attended. In March Rosalind Walker and Gill Earnshaw (Driffield FC) represented the Area when they arranged flowers in Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Observance. Just before Easter the Area ran a coach trip to the National Show at Bournemouth.
In May, at the invitation of The National Trust, the Area organised a Flower Festival at Ormsby Hall. The next month Mo Duffill and Margaret Coates (Bishop Burton FC) were invited to do flowers at Kensington Palace in aid of MacMillian Cancer Relief and Breast Cancer Care. The Area Luncheon was held in St William’s College, York and Members Day was at Skipton Town Hall. James Ripley led a group to the Sixth World Flower Show in Durban with Pat Staite, Sheila Rodgers and Pat Reader all gaining awards. The Area AGM was held in November when Rosalind Walker became Area Chairman. The final event of the year was a demonstration, ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York by Catherine Gledhill, Andrew Grisewood, Janet Hayton, Caroline Nash and Mary Patterson. In the Area Lists the numbers were as follows: Judges National 5 Area 18 Demonstrators National 9 Area 31 Speakers National 5 Area 6 National Teachers 6 From the Archives : 10 Years Ago (2014)Refresher days for both judges and demonstrators were held in March and April and in June many members went to Dublin for the World Flower Show (WAFA). Eileen Barraclough, Pam Kitchen, Sheila Rodgers and Elaine Bedford all were awarded prizes.
In July the Area was invited back to the Great Yorkshire Show, after some years without us. Eileen Barraclough and Sue Maddocks staged an exhibit on behalf of the Area and mini demonstrations and hands on workshops delighted the crowds. An Area Luncheon was enjoyed by 232 members at York Racecourse with a demonstration by Craig Bullock and table flowers designed by Hazel Hall with members of Acomb Flower Guild. Members took part in a Flower Festival at Castle Howard. In October an Area Demonstrators Test was held at Stockton on the Forest Village Hall when all candidates were successful: Elaine Bedford, Carys Harrison, Janine Gray, Lucy Hutton-Smith and Nicola Davies from our Area and three members from other Areas of NAFAS. At the National AGM in October Janet Hayton (Acomb Flower Guild) became the National President. At our Area AGM Sue Maddocks entertained after the event. The records show there were sixty-six clubs with a membership of 4,010. Judges National 3 Area 12 Demonstrators National 4 Area 30 Speakers National 4 Area 4 Teachers National 5 Area 11 |