SET up day on July 10, ahead of the St Swithin’s Flower Festival from July 11 to 14, meant sign boards had already been erected to draw the outside world in and away from World Cups and tennis finals.

Work was under way getting the kitchen ready and tables arranged around the church ready for refreshments. All day long people were in and out of the church carrying buckets of greenery, flowers, and all the bits and pieces that go to make their arrangements individual.

This year, all the arrangers had the freedom to name their own displays with whatever ideas came to mind. As visitors entered the porch, flowers greeted them on both sides. With flowers to spare and extra ones picked, the porch took on a life of its own. The ancient church door beckoned and created inspiration itself. Sandy Cheshire listened, and using it as a backdrop, it was transformed with flowers bending into an arch on either side, to make believe the old door could be opened and entered through. Hence the caption for the porch was; ‘St Swithin’s Secret Garden, Come on Inside!’

Through the door on the left, a jug of pretty lilac and purple stocks, from Agnes, could be found in her usual spot.

Up the few steps, Lilian Quinn sat inside at her usual table, ready to greet people coming in and to answer any questions. On the table to one side of her stood the donation jar around which Peter had created a ring of beautiful flowers, in memory of his wife, Leila Harwood.

Sue and Caroline Nunn did their colourful arrangements on the back window sill including a vase of gorgeous multi coloured sweet peas. Organic and locally grown vegetables were presented in a basket; the whole scene was aptly named ‘Flower and Vegetable Market Stall’.

The Mother’s Union display incorporated vases of bright blooms including sun flowers, chrysanthemums and roses, interspersed with information about the constant hard work the Mother’s Union does throughout the world. An old Singer sewing machine sat centre stage with a plaque underneath saying: “The gift of a sewing machine enables an African Mothers’ Union group to; make school uniforms, alter and repair clothes, earn a vital income, become more independent, and raise their profile in their community.”

The MU constantly strives to make life better for so many. Thanks were expressed to Susan Cotton and Sheila Waring for their support yet again.

Jan Hunt’s windowsill next to the vestry was delicately made up of very pretty pink roses and flowers from her cottage garden. She had arranged amongst the different roses, hydrangeas, lavender, bachelors’ buttons and variegated foliage.

A really pretty display by Fiona, of gentle cream, pink and purple, and the scent of stocks and lavender drew you into the box pew. It made it a quiet place to sit and feel peaceful.

The next window sill was done by Sue Irwin, an array of colour, bright red Crocosmia Lucifer-Montbretia, bright blue delphiniums in fact all the colours of the rainbow.

Across the aisle, Beryl had surrounded one of the pillars with many different flowers. There was a dear little miniature arch with a doll wearing a straw hat, who seemed to be waiting for someone to meet her. A tiny bird bath, fairies flitting behind. An arrow pointed the way ‘To the Bottom of My Garden’.

In front of the pulpit, Rose Harwood had arranged an array of bright sun flowers as the main feature, with foliage and deep pink hydrangeas. Rose, like her father Peter, dedicated her flowers to Leila ‘In memorandum of My Mother’.

The altar flowers Helen Barnes called ‘Keep On the Sunny Side of Life’ three arrangements spanned the shelf behind the altar, the centre piece being happy sun flowers, also to the left side of the altar a stunningly bright and colourful selection of blooms graced the pedestal, with a matching smaller version on the floor in front.

Lyn Wingard arranged the big window sill to the right of the altar, entitled ‘Dining Alfresco’. Her usual stunning display arranged to the right side of the shelf, always contains unusual blooms, never seen before! Then along to the left-hand side, a deconstructed, picnic table with champagne bottle cooling and glasses of fruit sundaes, Also a sun shade and sun hat to complete the picture.

Sandy brought lots of garden and wild flowers from home and arranged them all on the back choir pew and the window sill behind, all around a tricklling water feature. A little frog sat on top, about to dive in maybe? Then between the branches, a soft toy orangutan, lion, WWF penguin and panda, an RSPB hedgehog, meerkats, birds, plus bird feeder and bird box, the theme being ‘Our Precious Wildlife’.

On the wooden chest, Clare Monro’s idea was built on a beautiful painting of an ancestor. Clare arranged an array of different coloured foliage and flowers, dominated by gorgeous deep velvet red roses, also, as in the portrait, a bowl of red cherries were set to one side, this lovely lady is known to all the family as ‘The Cherry Lady’.

On the next window sill, Jenny Dabbs had designed one of the most colourful displays ever seen and guess what it was called — ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.

Opposite, around a corner pillar were several arrangements, all in matching cream and lemon mixed with deep blue hydrangeas, a poem called ‘You Were There’ by Emily Robinson, was the theme from Angela Grylls.

Under the cenotaph, Heather had created a display called ‘The Healing Garden’ and wrote: “Plants have been used for medicinal purposes by all cultures for aeons”. The display included honeysuckle, poppy heads, roses, mallow, daises and rosemary to name but a few.

Lots of donated plants were for sale outside, shaded under the trees. Inside the kitchen, it was a hive of activity, supplying visitors with cups of tea and coffee, salads, sandwiches, cream teas, cream slice, chocolate apple fudge cake, coffee, chocolate and fruit cake, lemon drizzle and lots more. Grateful thanks were expressed to all the brilliant bakers, waitresses and washer-uppers. There is always such a lot of work, before, during and afterwards. Then for Dee and Jan, to not only have organised it all but to then lay on a spread of sandwiches, quiche and cake to have after Songs of Praise, with a nice glass of wine.

A spokesperson said: “Everyone puts such a lot of effort, time and energy into making this event successful, so well done everyone and thank you so very much, to all who came, or helped in any way.

“We mustn’t forget to thank the organists who came to play their repertoire of melodies.

“Songs of Praise was led by LWL’s Annemary Davies and Sandy Cheshire, Laura was our guest reader, and all the hymns were favourites, chosen by our flower arrangers. Thank you for all your contributions to making the service a perfect way to end the evening.

“Helen Barnes is not only our flower lady in chief but also our tower captain and for her and her dedicated bell ringers, St Swithin’s next event will be the campanology afternoon on August 10 from 2pm to 4.30pm.

“Last year, as hoped for, two people actually were so interested they joined the bell ringing team; this made it all so worthwhile.”

The amount the Flower Festival raised is yet to be calculated.