I began my floristry career when I left school and started to work with C. Hodges Ltd. on Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol. I was taken on as an apprentice and had to start at the bottom and work my way up. Yes, sweeping floors, dusting china pots, shelves and watering plants was how I started. I was then taught how to moss wreath frames and wire up the foliage, how to make bows for gift bouquets, boxes and boxes of them and eventually progressed to making the cellophane bouquet. These days most funeral work is done on oasis foam, bows are ready made and you just pull them up. Once I had mastered the basics was I allowed to serve customers in the shop. Incedently no modern till that added up totals and told you how much change to give, you had to use your brain. After two years I was sent to Bath technical collage on a day release course to get my City and Guilds qualifications years 1 and 2. I entered interflora competitions and won several 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. We did some unusual displays, such as the giotto space satalite made out of flowers. Sadly the shop is now closed, but I stayed with them right up until they closed down. 15 years of service.

Here is a small example of my work, both past and present.