Blooming marvellous - 50th Flower Festival rose above and beyond expectations

Golden celebrations in Old Hunstanton

On my way to St Mary’s I pass Sandra Ellison, a retired priest who still runs a few Sunday services at the church. “It’s fantastic that we’ve got to 50 years, we’ve got lots of new people coming in, new faces doing the flower arranging. As you can see it’s very popular and it’s only just after 10 o’clock. Enjoy it!”

Outside one of the wardens is sitting on a bench in the sunshine, “It’s getting bigger and better each year,” says Steve Rimmer. “It’s a great way of gelling the village, a real coming together and it really is a wonderful place.” I also chat to Simon Carter who’s selling programmes and ask if he’s got a favourite display, “Ohh, tough question. We have some amazing ones, all sorts of different interpretations - go and have a look around and decide for yourself!”

As I enter St Mary’s it’s the aroma I notice first. It’s unbe-leaf-ably (couldn’t resist) wonderful. I’m handed a list of the flower displays and join dozens of people on a walk around. There’s everything from goldilocks to a golden toilet. The golden theme is of course paying homage to the 50th anniversary.

“It’s a bit of fun really, it’s representing the stolen loo from Blenheim palace. We spray painted the toilet, cardboard box for the cistern, jam jar for the handle - and one of the thieves wearing my stuffed gardening outfit." Helen Riddington tells me. “It really is a lovely 3 days, it’s very good for the community, because we don’t necessarily see each other during the year much. There are people from other villages too and we all pick up where we left off.”

As if to prove a point we’re interrupted by two ladies eager to say hello and tell Helen the idea’s ‘simply brilliant’. Before I walk on she stops me and says, “I’ve been taking part for around 40 years, the longest someone has, I’m not necessarily the oldest participant but very nearly!” 

Next I spot someone watering the displays, who happens to be the coordinator of the event Gary Bocking,“I love the fact that everyone comes together, we’ve got so many different people and it’s just such a pleasure to all pitch in, everyone helps each other and it’s just such a lovely atmosphere. I think the final buzz of the last few days is really special.”

After walking around and seeing all the displays (it’s hard to pick a favourite, but my one year old has fallen in love with ‘mummy bear’) I stop for a moment and sit on a pew, and take in what is a brilliant community event. I hear murmurs of appreciation.  Carol who’s sitting nearby tells me she’s come for the last 30 years, “This is one of the best I’ve ever seen, there are some very clever minds that work out not only beautiful flowers but beautiful themes.”

As I head to the village hall where there’re stalls and refreshments (as well as a hog roast on the Saturday and a dog show on the Sunday), I pass the duck pond where plants are being sold for those feeling inspired. 

Winnie the dog stops to say hello, her owners tell me she’s a previous winner for ‘the waggiest tail’.  They buy some flowers from the stall and say the festival gets ‘better and better each year’.

It's a joyful three days in the village and as I sit and eat some lovely homemade cake I hear a comment that I’m sure will delight all those involved. Jane from Northampton, who recently went to Sandringham Flower Show, says, “I think that the flowers here are more exquisite than they were there.”  A well deserved compliment indeed.

Church warden Steve Rimmer says the show gets 'bigger and better' each year

A take on the classic fairy tale