OKEHAMPTON Flower Club celebrates its 30th anniversary next week with a popular annual demonstration.

Thirty years ago this month a group of ladies in the Okehampton area decided to form a group for anyone interested in flower arranging. The original name, Okehampton Flower Arranging Society, was eventually changed to the more succinct Okehampton Flower Club.

For the past 25 years, the club has had a stall at the League of Friends? Christmas Fair. For 12 years, the club has looked after the flowers at the Redvers Centre, previously at the Castle Hospital, but now located at the new Okehampton Community Hospital.

Over the years the club has staged flowers for the mayor choosing and other civic occasions.

Members have taken part in competitions all over Devon and Cornwall, and were proud to have won the club class for the two counties when competing at Torquay.

The club has entered many times at the county show and staged flower festivals at most of the churches and chapels in the area. It has staged flower exhibitions at Exeter Cathedral and at Buckfast Abbey and in doing so has helped raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Next Tuesday, December 2, the club stages its Christmas demonstration in the Charter Hall, at 7.15pm.

Pauline Fletcher of the flower club said: ?The people of Okehampton and surrounding villages have always supported us.?

Mrs Fletcher said she hoped people would continue to do so this year, and help celebrate the club?s 30th anniversary.

If you would like to join the club, come along and talk to members at the Christmas demonstration or telephone 01837 52943.