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)

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 (1976)

The Area luncheon was held at Stamford Bridge where East Riding Flower Club did the flowers and members of Headingley Flower Club presented a hilarious entertainment, ‘Cordon Blue in Flowers.
There was a meeting of Programme Secretaries and club Chairmen in February held at St Clements Church Hall in York.
Members of the Area were busy this year organising the annual NAFAS conference. This was held at the University of York in September.  Events included trips to York Mansion House and Castle Howard, talks by Peter Gibson on the stained glass of York Minster and Robert Patterson (former Curator of the Castle Museum and Iris Webb (NAFAS Historian).
The Area Show, ‘Herald of Christmas’ was held in the Bentley Pavilion, Doncaster on the 3td and 4th of December.
East Ardsley Flower Club became affiliated to the Area.​

From the Archives :
​25 Years Ago (2001)

In April of this year a Club Officers Forum was held at Harrogate when the Area Executive prepared the luncheon.
Members Day was held in Pudsey at the Civic Centre during which Athena Tulba gave a demonstration entitled, ‘My World’.
An Area Demonstrators Test was held at The Folk Hall, New Earswick when the successful candidates were Eileen Barraclough, Susan Fairhurst, Sally Goodrick, Olga Lycett and Andrew Mason.
At the Harrogate Spring Flower Show members of Malton Flower Club arranged the Area stand ‘The Science of Astronomy’ in a contemporary style of spheres to depict the planets. Mini demonstrations were presented by Liz Tinker, Tony Cleaver and Sue Maddocks. At the Autumn Show members of Ilkley Flower Club designed the dashing ‘James Bond’ Area stand.
The September weekend was held at Ripon.
At the AGM held at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, Norma Dobney became Area Chairman, In the afternoon members enjoyed a demonstration by Sheila Gordon and Tony Cleaver.

From the Archives :
10 Years Ago (2016)

A Media Officers Day was held in October with the National e-Media Officer, Caroline Jackson assisted by Peter Mathers and Mary Adams explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the various social media options available to clubs.
The Area AGM was held at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. After the AGM Vanessa Wellock entertained members with, ‘Hashtag – Five Gold Rings’.
Vanessa also travelled to Westminster Abbey with Judy Watker in March to arrange flowers for the annual Commonwealth Observance Service.  Later in the year Jan Gardner and Bridget Lane from Acomb Flower Guild also arranged flowers at Westminster Abbey.
The Area Luncheon was held at The Golden Lion Hotel in Northallerton. 153 members enjoyed the luncheon and entertainment provided by Sarah Hopps.
At the Harrogate Spring Flower Show the Area exhibit, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ was cleverly depicted by Norma Dobney, Pat Trueman and Pat Daley .
At the end of this year the North East Area had 3,401 members in 61 clubs.​

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?