A FLOWER festival was held at Fairplace Church on the theme of ‘Celebrations’ last weekend.

Members of the congregation at the church got together with several other flower arrangers to create the fabulous displays.

The festival was open for the public to enjoy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 14-16).

Organiser Ann Holland said she had always wanted to hold a flower festival and had decided now was the time.

‘This is the first flower festival we’ve had in the church for many years and we decided we’d like to do one on the theme of Celebrations,’ she said. ‘Each of the displays is about something to celebrate, with birthdays, christenings, Christmas, Easter, Whitsun and harvest among them.

‘Most of us are church people. A couple of others from the parish church have joined us, and the rest of us are members of the church here, so we are not professional flower arrangers. We’ve been down here all week and we’ve really enjoyed doing it.’

One of the displays at the festival featured wedding dresses from Ann’s own family, including the silk dress worn by her mother for her wedding in 1945.

Among those taking part was Claire Tricker from Winkleigh, who said: ‘Basically I love flower arranging, it is one of my big therapies along with singing.’

There was a scent of flowers in the air as the arrangers put the finishing touches to the displays, which also included one marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

Another commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, featuring letters from home to a local soldier in the trenches.

Ann added: ‘We are very pleased with how it has turned out. It has been an absolute team effort. Everyone’s worked very hard.’

Congregation members Roger and Pat Partridge also opened their garden in Leaholes Avenue to the public over the weekend as part of the festival.

Fairplace Church was formed 45 years ago from a merger of the town’s United Reformed and Methodist churches.

The festival follows the refurbishment of the Terry Bennett Centre in the church entrance, which includes a coffee bar.