Oscars inspire East Preston art and flowers

Fresh from picking up a gold medal and the best floral arrangement award at the Chelsea Flower Show, member Linda Porrett contributed a depiction in flowers of cult film 2001: A Space Odyssey to the three-day show in the Conservative Hall.

It featured a galaxy of box office hits, including Casino Royale, The Ladykillers, Jailhouse Rock, Chariots of Fire, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Top Hat.

And the arrangements were accompanied by 130 pictures by 52 artists on the main display boards, with a further 150 unframed works.

Once again, all eyes were on the large stage set, this year based on South Pacific, and blending humour, creativity and the arranging skills of Pamela Parr and Pam Crozier, with Tony Martin adding his practical talents, too.

A figure with a towel over her head instantly suggested the song I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outa My Hair and exotic flowers and palm trees gave a tropical feel, while well-chosen seascapes were grouped together to complete the picture.

Club chairman Sheila Cheal, who co-ordinates the art exhibits, felt her team had pulled off another successful show in spite of being depleted by six members taking part in Chichester Cathedral’s Festival of Flowers.

“It’s meant that different people have had the chance to do things, which is something we like to encourage.

“We’re very lucky to have some very talented members.

“We’ve been very pleased with the numbers coming through the doors, many of them coming back year after year, and they really seem to appreciate it.”

And even the members who didn’t create 14 main arrangements played a part, providing 90 posies, all of them sold by the time the event closed on Monday.

From the event’s proceeds, the club will make a donation to St Barnabas House hospice.