It is with great pleasure that I write my first newsletter to you all as the new Chairman of the North East Area of NAFAS. At the annual AGM on 19 November 2022 I was warmly welcomed into office. My sincere thanks for all your kind wishes, many cards of congratulations and for two beautiful bouquets. First let me send my wishes for a Happy New Year when, both within your own clubs and the area, there are lots of things to look forward to with plenty of time to enjoy flowers, whether watching with like-minded people or getting involved and creatively playing with flowers. Our first Council meeting of the year on the 21 January 2023 will be held via Zoom commencing at 1pm . An invitation to attend the meeting will be sent a few days beforehand via an email from Ann Simpson. The further three Council meetings of 2023 will be held at the Folk Hall, New Earswick York. Commencing at 1pm as follows:
29 April
29 July
14 October
In addition, two education workshops are being held at Wigginton Recreation Hall, York. The first is on the 11 March and the following one on the 23 September. If anyone wants to join this group, please contact Vanessa Wellock who will be able to give you more information vanessa@wildflowersuk.co.uk We are also looking at putting on a Judges' Refresher Day this year, more information on this later. In anticipation of the Coronation to come in May the Harrogate Spring Flower Show from 20 to 23 April will have a regal theme this year. Please note that for anyone considering entering these classes the schedule will only be available online on the show website www.flowershow.org.uk The Harrogate Autumn Flower Show will be held at Newby Hall on the 15-17 of September. Further dates for your diary:
11 -13 May an area trip is going to the National Show which is being held in Gloucester Cathedral
11-14 July the Great Yorkshire Show is being held
Our Area Lunch on 6th September will be held this year at the Pavilions, Harrogate and will have a Sapphire theme as we celebrate 65 years as an Area. Finally, the Area AGM will be held on the 18 November, more information later. Members of the Executive Committee and I look forward to seeing you at some or all of these events or maybe to visiting your clubs at your special events. On behalf of all your Executive Committee may I wish you a very successful 2023, enjoying sharing our love of flowers and the art of arranging them.
Sheila
A Message from the Retiring Chairman, Janet Ratcliffe
Dear members of the North East Area of NAFAS, The AGM on Saturday 19th November was the day I retired as Area Chairman, and took up my new role as Area President. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Area Chairman, and after three years it is time to hand over to Sheila Drybrough. I wish Sheila all the best and I hope she enjoys the role as much if not more than I did. Thank you to everyone who wished me 'all the best' and 'enjoy your retirement' in either cards, emails or verbally. Thank you so much to Vanessa Wellock and Alex Gracey for the absolutely wonderful demonstration in the afternoon, their designs were beautiful, the stage looked fantastic and their 'double act' was both informative and very entertaining! It was a privilege to be part of the Executive Committee and meet so many of you over the last seven years. I have valued everyone's friendship and support and hope to share forthcoming Area events with you throughout 2023. I was highly delighted to receive my retirement gift of a beautiful string of pearls which I will wear with pride and as a reminder of you all. Thank you for your ongoing support of the North East Area and have a lovely Christmas - 'Till we meet again' next year. With very best wishes Janet
Area Trip to the NAFAS Show at Gloucester
We are pleased to announce the North East Area trip to the National Show at Gloucester Cathedral from Thursday 11th May to Saturday 13th May 2023. We will be staying at the St. Pierre Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Chepstow NP16 6YA and visiting the show on Friday 12th May 2023. Full details and an application form can be downloaded here.
Pictures from the AGM and the demonstration ably given by Vanessa Wellock and Alex Gracey will be posted as soon as possible.
A couple of images from the 2022 Harrogate autumn flower show at Newby Hall showing the NAFAS workshops. Pictured are (left) Sheila Drybrough and (above, in purple) Susan Hall.
Chairman's Newsletter - Autumn 2022
From the Area Chairman
Dear Flower Club members, This is my last letter as N E Area Chairman as I retire at the AGM in November, after three years as opposed to the usual two. The last three years have certainly been very different, and I plan to say more about this at the AGM. I have so many people to thank for their support over the last three years along with you the N E Area members who have supported your clubs, through very difficult times. I do hope you are all back together and enjoying each other’s company as well as in some cases a different venue and a much-changed programme. There is ‘life after Covid’ and in many cases it has made us re-evaluate what is most important to us. For example, today, as I look out of my study window, the cherry tree leaves have turned a beautiful red/orange, the sun is shining, and the sky is clear. This is a beautiful time of year particularly if you can manage to walk through deciduous woodland, with the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet. There are also different fungi emerging, which if you know which are safe to eat you can have a fungi feast!! It is also the time of year when we can use wonderful mixtures of colours in our arrangements – Reds, Oranges, Purples and Pinks with the odd splash of yellow and brown. Who would have put pink and orange together a few years ago, how times have changed! We have several projects organised for next year, which I will let Sheila Drybrough, your incoming Chairman tell you about in her Winter newsletter. Like me I’m sure you send Sheila every good wish in her new role. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful Autumn weather, and start planning your clubs Christmas activities if you haven’t already done so, though knowing many flower club committees these are well in hand. I hope to see many of you at Council meetings and Area events over the coming months and years. With very best wishes, Janet Ratcliffe
Stokesley
Meeting the Queen in Huddersfield (!)
Castleford
Huddersfield
Stokesley
Castleford
Click the link below to download a copy of the July 2022 Area Newsletter