Winton AHS Flower Club

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On 31st March a full coach made a trip to Southport for shopping and lunch. It was quite windy and we had an unscheduled stop for coffee on the way to enable the coach wing mirrors to be adjusted, but everyone was quite happy and we were on our way very quickly. We made good time to Southport and people had plenty of time to shop and have lunch before making our way to Samlesbury Hall, a beautiful medieaval house with a fascinating history. After a tour of the house we were given a lovely afternoon tea which was enjoyed by all, the choice of sandwiches and cakes was amazing. There was time to walk around the house again if wished and visit the antiques on sale. It was a very successful day out and I think many will visit the hall again.

We had a workshop with Eileen Thornton, on Friday May 19th. We had 19 attending and all had a really memorable learning experience with Eileen, even though she was very illl at the time and should not have been out at all. We were shown two contrasting arrangements and then all attending did their own interpretation and Eileen was very pleased with the results as some of those attending were absolute beginners. We were asked for another workshop and we hope we can do one later in the year.

A full coach visited York for the morning on Saturday 18th June followed by a visit to George Smith's home and garden. The weather was very kind to us, dry but cool. It was a lovely day out with shopping and lunch in York and then on to George's lovely little manor house. George was his usual self, warm and welcoming and talking to everyone, he gave us a slide show and talk, plus tea and biscuits and the house was beautifully decorated with flowers. A great many plants were purchased and the coach coming home was overflowing with plants in every bit of space. A great day out.

On the 14th September we had another wonderful day out in fantastic sunny weather, a full coach again, to Clitheroe for the morning for shopping and lunch. The usually wonderful outdoor market was a bit disappointing, as most markets are these days, going downhill, but everyone said they enjoyed it and there were some shopping bags back on board before going on to the North West Area Flower Festival at Houghton Tower. We had been told that it was going to be fabulous but what a glorious event! It was truly amazing and everyone was overawed by it all and full of praise. We were all glad we had been to see it as we have been told it is unlikely to see such a big event in the North West ever again. It was truly memorable and another lovely day and very much enjoyed, judging by the comments afterwards.

In September some members of the club joined Winton Garden Club on a coach trip to Harrogate Flower Show, this was a great day out and very enjoyable, again lots of plants on the coach coming home.

On the 1st November we had a good response to the Going for Gold luncheon at Ribby Hall to round off NWA NAFAS Golden Year. It was memorable occasion with a lovely lunch and demonstration and enjoyed by all who attended.

We had another workshop with Eileen Thornton on 17th November. Eileen gave us two wonderful demonstrations for Christmas and the flower arrangements by the attendees was amazing. Eileen was full of praise for all the efforts and the room looked like a flower show at the end. Everyone was really enthusiastic and thrilled with their arrangements and clamouring for another workshop. We hope Eileen will do another one for us in the Spring. These have turned out to be really successful and we hope to entice more newcomers to have a go. This last time a third of those attending had never done anything like it before, which was good.

Our last trip of the year was to Slattery Patissier and Chocolatier in Whitefield. Another full coach, with others going by car. We had a most enjoyable day, with a warm welcome and tea and coffee on arrival. This was followed by a most interesting and informative talk by Mr John Slattery on the origins of the company and how it has expanded with such success. He gave a talk on chocolate and how it is grown and processed and followed by a demonstration of truffle making, the proceeds of which were given to us all later. The lunch was delightful and very generous and lavish and was thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone received a bag of goodies at the end and had time to visit the shop and purchase from the fantastic displays. We had great trouble getting people out of the shop and back onto the coach waiting outside. A very successful end to a successful year.