PEOPLE with a passion for flowers gathered in Northallerton to mark a milestone for a popular floral club.

The Northallerton and District Flower Club marked its 50th anniversary on Friday (September 5) with a celebration lunch at the town’s Golden Lion pub.

Maggy Price, from the club, said flower arranging had progressed a long way since their first meeting.

“Our first competition was for five flowers in a vase, but skills have grown enormously and expectations of what people can do has grown too.

“People think flower arranging is quite twee but it is an art form and like any art form it grows more sophisticated methods and people learn more as you go on.

“Skills are learnt and shared and new materials are available. In the old days you wouldn’t get hold of half the flowers we have now. Lorries come from Holland every week. You can get these flowers all year round now.

“So what you can create now is far beyond what you could have done even ten to 15 years ago.”

The group has more than 90 members, including two who have been with the club since its inception.

It is part of the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS) and regularly takes part in national events and contests. Two member narrowly missed out on a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2012, coming home with silver-gilt medals.

The group meets on the first Friday of every month in the WI Hall at Romanby. Anyone wishing to join the group can contact treasurer Eva Shuttleworth on 01609 773058.