The Area Historian is Tony Cleaver.

​North East Area Chairmen

2024 - date: Rita Braithwaite (York)
2022 - 2024: 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, Yorkshire
1993 - 1995: Janet Hayton, Acomb
1991 - 1993: Mary Patterson
1989 - 1991: Shirley Clegg, 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)

Brochure from Beverley Minster flower festival "For All the Saints", June 2000

"At Home" flower festival at the home of Rosalind Walker, Lund, Driffield December 2000

Area Exhibit "Fire" was awarded Gold at Harrogate Spring Flower Show.

Planting weeping limes. In the picture are Geoffrey Smith and Mrs Baydell of Harlow Carr, and Elena Raistrick, Margaret Herdson and Alice Bray from the North East Area. Can anyone help with who is who?

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 (1975)

In January of 1975 the Area held its first teachers’ day at St Clements Hall, York when one hundred and eighty members attended including those intending to be teachers, and members of staff of several colleges of further education. Exhibits were staged by students of the City & Guilds courses of period flower arranging designs.
 
The Area luncheon was held on 17 May at Harlow Carr Gardens (then run by the Northern Horticultural Society). The Yorkshire Flower Club celebrated its 21st anniversary with a buffet supper at Hotel St George, Harrogate. In the cellars of King’s Manor, York Acomb Flower Guild staged a flower festival; ‘Pages from History’. In November the Area AGM was held in the Royal Station Hotel, York when Dorothy Gray was elected as Area Chairman and Alice Bray became the Area President.  The retiring Area President, Elena Rastrick, presented a cheque for the purchase of a brooch/badge to be worn by the 1st Vice Chairman. A warm welcome was extended to Ossett Flower Club, which had recently affiliated to the North East Area.
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From the Archives : 25 Years Ago (2000)

The year 2000 was a very active one for the Area with an Area flower festival at Beverley Minster in June. ’For All the Saints’ was designed by Pat Hutchinson, Pat Martin and Rosalind Walker with every club in the Area taking part.  The event attracted 1500 visitors including 100 international delegates who were attending the WAFA (World Association of Flower Arrangers) being held in York at the same time. Just before Christmas Rosalind Walker also held a flower festival at her home near Driffield. 
 
To celebrate the Millennium a luncheon was held in June at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate where Eugenie Wiener was the speaker whilst in the evening Barry Grey gave a demonstration at the Conference Centre. Also to celebrate the Millennium in August the four York flower clubs (Acomb, Haxby & Wigginton, New Earswick and York) organised a flower trail in venues in York city centre.  This included an open demonstration, ‘Flowers R Us’ at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre by Janet Hayton, Mary Patterson, Kath Doggett, Hazel Hagyard and Ann Wilkinson compered by Tony Cleaver.  East Keswick, Knaresborough, and Wakefield flower clubs staged flower festivals and Castleford flower club planted a Prunus ‘Spire Hillieri’ at the local hospital to mark the Millennium. In October the National AGM was held at York Racecourse, organised by National 2nd Vice Chairman, Pat Martin with a luncheon and a demonstration by Derek Armstrong.
 
Refresher days were held during the year by Judges and Speakers and the Teachers held two workshops. Eugenie Weiner became an Instructor for Speakers, Tony Cleaver became a National Speaker and a member of the National Speakers Committee, Pat Reader a National Judge also an Adjudicator for Speakers Tests, Kath Doggett an Area Judge and Pat Staite was appointed Stewarding Officer for the 2001 National Show.
 
The Area bought its first computer and printer for use by the Area Secretary. There were 79 clubs in the North East Area.

From the Archives : 10 Years Ago (2015)

The year began with a Club Officers Day at Stockton on the Forest when Janet Hayton and Peter Mathers gave presentations before members split in themed discussion groups. In April the Area Luncheon was held at the Parsonage Country House Hotel, near York with table flowers arranged by East Riding Flower Club. At the Harrogate Spring Flower Show the Area exhibit was awarded a Gold.  The exhibit ‘Fire’ was stage by Sally Brass, Kathleen Dodds and Pam Nicholson from Northallerton Flower Club. See image on the left. 
 
In May a Speakers Test was held at Shipton by Beningbrough in conjunction with Northumberland & Durham Area, when all candidates passed including Pat Hutchinson, Peter Mathers and Jenny Stacey from our Area. Debbie Pascoe from Tadcaster Flower Club and Barbara Leeming from Barwick in Elmet Flower Club arranged flowers at Westminster Abbey.
In August the second Scarborough Spree weekend was held when 97 members enjoyed an entertainment by Judith Hibbert, workshops by Rachel Poole and demonstrations by Andrew Grisewood and Coral Gardiner.
 
Members Day returned to the Joseph Rowntree School, New Earswick in September with a talk by Maria Glott on ‘Saltaire 1803-1876 and a demonstration by Angela Turner.  The Area AGM in November took place at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield when Joan O’Brien became Area Chairman. This was followed with a demonstration by Elaine Bedford and Carys Harrison. There were 65 clubs in the Area.
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AREA TRIP TO AMSTERDAM, JUNE 2010
There are fond memories of the Area visit to Amsterdam for the Open Gardens Weekend in June 2010 where Tony Cleaver and Peter Mathers led an intrepid band of North East Area members. How many can you recognise?