A group which promises fun flowers and friendship and which is now approacing its 60th anniversary.
Members of Oldham Flower Club have been creating stunning arrangements which have graced the likes of Manchester Cathedral since 1960
A member of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arranging Societies) and is only one of 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 fist in the area and our subscriptions when we started was five shillings (25p). At the very fist 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 form their own Societies.
Kathleen added "The ladies back then all wore hats. It was very formal and we are not. We were recently laughing at the the minutes taken then because they are all referred to "Mrs such-a-body" and "Miss such-a-body". Now we don't know our members surnames!!!
We are a very friendly Club and people come to have a laugh and a chatter. It's supposed to be fun friendship and flowers Members old and new, visitors and enquiries about what we are and what we do are always welcomed.
Over the years membership has risen and dipped and members and friends currently attend monthly meetings/workshops at the Community Centre at Daisy Nook Garden Centre.
In previous years members have helped to create two flower festivals at the Garden Centre resulting in our raising funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and we are proud to say that these festivals led us to raise sufficient funds to enable us to sponsor and a Guide Dog puppy which was subsequenly named Hope by us and this puppy went on to qualify as a fully trained 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 at 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 wide age group and we are particularly interested in now attracting younger members who we hope will bring new blood and indeed ideas to us. If we could attract enough new members then perhaps we could consider creating a junior section.
We would be pleased to hear from anyone who may have any further information regarding the membership and history of the Club