AFTER 22 years arranging flowers at various flower festivals in Westminster Abbey, Pat Lewis had a great surprise to be again asked to arrange a pedestal depicting India for Commonwealth Day with Katherine Kear of Gloucester, once again in the Abbey. Pat and Katherine represented Churchdown Flower Guild on behalf of the Three Counties and South Wales Area of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Society. It entailed much travelling over several days.

On Monday her majesty the Queen, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales attended the service at 3.30pm. During the observance they listened to Courtney Pine OBE, saxophonist and Juliet Roberts soprano. The hour-long service concluded with a full procession through the Abbey which they felt so lucky to see having had a front seat. Pat, who lives at Corse, has arranged flowers at various cathedrals and NAFAS events over many years and is chairman of Churchdown Flower Guild, which she and Katherine Kear started. Katherine also teaches floral art, is a demonstrator and writer.