Our floristry students have continued to prove they are among the nation’s best by taking top awards at this week’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the world’s most prestigious flower show.
Our Level 3 Diploma in Floristry student team was runner-up for the third consecutive year in the RHS Chelsea Future Florist, a national competition open to all colleges and training institutions.
The students, Helen Cooke, Dave Billington, Lee Law, Gill Hindle and Gabrielle Williams, were also awarded a silver medal for their spectacular interpretation of a tuk-tuk. Just a couple of marks separated our entry from those of the winner, with the judges praising our team’s excellent choice of colourful flowers, technical ability and beautiful workmanship.
Reaseheath’s stand, a riot of vibrant yellow, pink and orange flowers, has continued to ‘wow’ the thousands of visitors throughout the week.
Our students spent three days at the event including press day, which was attended by HM The Queen, other members of the royal family and many celebrities.
Said Lee: “This whole experience has been once in a lifetime opportunity that I’ll never forget and I feel so proud to have taken part in it and shared it with the team. It’s been a roller-coaster of emotions and I’m thrilled to have won a medal to take back to college”.
Reaseheath’s Head of Floristry Sue Poole added: “I am so very proud of the way the team pulled together to create their display and delighted that the quality of their work was recognised by such highly regarded judges. The students did an amazing job considering they were performing to world-class standards. They were fantastic ambassadors for the college.”
Talented former student Robyn Longden, 21, was also celebrating after being awarded a coveted gold medal in the national finals of the RHS Chelsea Young Florist of the Year. This exciting competition, featuring the UK’s top florists aged between 16 and 25, required the finalists to create floral kites against a backdrop of a blue summer sky.
Robyn, who progressed through her Level 1, 2 and 3 Diplomas in Floristry with us, now works for top florist and judge Ian Lloyd – himself a former Reaseheath student. During her three years with us Robyn was a member of the student team at both RHS Chelsea and Tatton Park and also represented Reaseheath at the WorldSkills UK finals.
