IT was a golden moment when members of Tavistock Flower Club met for a luncheon at the town's Bedford Hotel recently.

They were there to celebrate the club's golden anniversary and the dining room of the hotel was a delight to behold — there was almost a golden haze to the proceedings, created by beautiful floral centre-pieces of avalanche roses, sunflowers and golden rod adorning each table and the room was bright with containers of flowers prominently displayed.

There were golden flowers embossed on the individual menus and each guest received a gift of a kit containing miniature pots and sunflower seeds to be grown on a windowsill

Following a delicious meal, an anniversary cake was cut and toasts were drank.

Founded in 1961, the club has grown and thrived over the years. The founding members, being small in number, originally held their meetings in each other's houses, but as membership increased, larger premise were required. The club moved to its present venue in 1977 and continues to meet monthly on a Wednesday afternoon.

Few would have foreseen, that 50 years later, so many people, with an abiding interest in the art of flower arranging, would gather to commemorate the first half-century.

Club president Christine Jeffery introduced the speaker, Mrs Valerie Budgen Cawsey. Before moving to Devon she had been housekeeper and chef to Princess Anne, but no royal secrets were divulged. Instead, members were treated to an amusing talk on the perils of growing old, entitled, 'Growing Old Disgracefully.'

Laughter was the order of the day and thanks were expressed to all who worked so hard to make it so. The club now looks forward to the future and whatever the next 50 years might bring to the rewarding and colourful world of flower arranging.

The May meeting will be on Wednesday 25th at 2.30pm. The guest demonstrator is Heather Werkmeister. Her theme will be Spring Sensations. The competition for members is 'Walk On the Wild Side'.

RIGHT: Shown left to right are Mrs Jill Wheeler, who came with Mrs Ve Ackland, area president Devon and Cornwall Area of National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies; Mrs Christine Jeffery, Tavistock Flower Club president; Mrs Valerie Budgen Cawsey, speaker; Miss Lesley Hughes, Tavistock Flower Club chairman; Mrs Vivienne Thompson, area chairman, and Mrs Ros Jefferies, Tavistock Flower Club secretary.

Picture by Graham Skedgell