History
Saying it with flowers after 50 years
A group which promises fun, friendship and flowers and which is now approacing its 60th anniversary.
Members of Oldham Floral Art Society have been creating stunning arrangements — which have graced the likes of Manchester Cathedral — since 1960.
A member of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies) and is one of only 13 clubs in the North-West to have reached its golden jubilee.
Originally an offshoot of Oldham Chrysanthemum Society, chairman Kathleen Williams said: “They sponsored us and gave us a donation of £5, that kicked us off.
“We were the first in the area and our subscription when we started was five shillings.(25p). At the very first meeting there were 15 members but within a month that went up to 50.”
The group originally met at the Lyceum, with Chadderton and Saddleworth later going on to establish their own societies.
Kathleen added: “The ladies back then all wore hats. It was very formal and we are not. We were laughing at the minutes because they are all referred to ‘Mrs such-a-body’ and ‘Miss such-a-body’. Now we don’t know our members’ surnames!
“We have a very friendly club and people come to have a laugh. It’s supposed to be fun, friendship and flowers.”
Over the years, membership has grown and dipped and members and friends currently attend monthly meetings at the Community room located at Daisy Nook Garden Centre
In previous years, members helped to create two flower festivals at the Garden Centre resulting in our raising funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind and we are proud to say that these fesivals led us to raise sufficient funds to allow us to name a Guide Dog puppy (named Hope) who has since gone on to qualify as a working Guide Dog.
The Club in earlier years has helped to fill Manchester Cathedral with 20,000 blooms as part of the Manchester International Festival. Also we have attended at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Royton, and Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton under Lyne to take part in flower festivals held as part of their fund raising activities.
Kathleen said: “We're not old-fashioned and we have quite a lot of contemporary work. Our membership covers a range of age groups and we are particularly interested in now attracting younger members who we hope will help us bring new blood and perhaps ideas to us. If we could attract enough new members then perhaps we could consider creating a junior section ,