Hawkshaw and District Flower Club The March meeting commenced with the presentation of a cheque for £600 by the Chairman, Mr Gerry Reid, to the Chairman of the Bury Hurdles Charity, Mrs Geraldine Green. This was money raised by various events during 2011.

The demonstration which followed was hilarious, but the humour no way detracted from the splendid flower arranging of Bill Dixon, a national demonstrator and a member of our flower club.

His first arrangement was on a Spring theme with three placements on a tall, triangular metal frame holding blue hyacinths, pink tulips and daffodils with maple twigs and fatsia leaves.

A tall basket held palm leaves and protea, new red and green anthurium and a slice of melon in the centre. A second placement with a pineapple in the centre enhanced the Caribbean flavour.

Then an intricate design was of bright red twigs and red roses fastened on to the outside of a tall green vase and placed in a shallow dish with sparkling candles.

'Cocktails' were depicted by an arrangement in a tall funnel-shaped glass container, with fatsia leaves round the rim, and sword-like foliage of dracaena rising in the centre. Blue agapanthus, orange and red roses and yellow and red orchid florets filled the glass.

A tall cage of driftwood with foam attached vertically holding pink and cream roses with exquisite green and pink anthurium was followed by two similar placements each with a row of candles.

The finale was simply wonderful consisting of several arrangements using only large white chrysanthemums with long stems of pussy willow and driftwood making a dramatic effect for the end of a special evening.

The next meeting will be on the 4th April at 7.30pm in the Civic Hall, Ramsbottom, when the demonstrator will be Eileen Barraclough from Shipley.

Doors open at 6.45pm. Visitors are always welcome (£5) There will be a sales table of books and CDs.

P.A.W.