THE parish of Bere Ferrers continued to celebrate 750 years with a three-day flower festival in St Andrew's Church last weekend. A year of planning and fundraising resulted in a wonderful festival with 18 tableaux depicting the history of the parish. More than 100 plant-filled psychedelic wellington boots flanked the pathway into church. Yellow and white carnations and roses were used for the farming display which reflected Saxon origins, cider and apple orchards dating from the reign of Henry VIII, sheep, fruit and saltings all were important. A special stand by Iris Snell celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Bere Ferrers Spring Flower Show this year. A flower filled picnic basket, strawberries and treats brought back memories of the strawberry field Sunday School outings by train to Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston from the 1920s onwards. In the north transept a mine, complete with rails, had been built to resemble the silver and lead mining era of the 13th century. The deck of a sailing boat was cleverly contrived by Chris Fine and Rosemary Bell, using the dark hues of the smoke tree, phormiums and proteas. The 'River Tavy' was shown gurgling through the north transept complete with wild flowers. This display was by Rosemary Bell and Christine Fine. Red, white and blue was the theme for the memorial to the New Zealand soldiers who died in a tragic accident at Bere Ferrers station in 1917. In the Lady Chapel members of Holy Trinity Church recalled the original church which was sited behind the Edgcumbe pub. The parish vestments adorned the pulpit, and white lilies and roses the altar. Charles Alfred Stothart, a historical draughtsman who fell to his death in the church in 1821, was remembered by Sheila Gay in vibrant silken drapes, together with an artist's palette. Particularly pleasing was the re-introduction of the hanging flower balls, the work of Joyce Peden. The porch had a wedding theme, pink and white, Margaret Willmott was responsible for the displays which included her wedding dress. The font was smothered in an exquisite haze of white by Ann Blythe, who had also decorated the belfry. Organists were Ann Parsons, David Crocker, Mary Hocking and Fred Palmer. Rebecca and Tim Hamlyn (Renaissance recorders) and Tim Hampson (double bass) also entertained with melodic early music. Flower arrangers were Iris Snell, Monica Mitchell, Christine Fine, Rosemary Bell, Joyce Peden, Margaret Crout, Sheila Gay, Pam Watts, Margaret Willmott, Ann Blythe, Jeliette Lucke, Margaret Davies and members of Holy Trinity Church. • On Sunday morning a special joint flower festival service was held in the church, with the two Church of England churches and Bere Alston United Church participating. The newly-formed St Andrew's Singers also took part. The theme was flowers and God's creation and the principles of flower arranging were used to look at the body of the church itself. Prayers were written on paper petals and formed into flowers and buttercups were dissected to study the wonder of their form.
