At least it didn’t snow! But heavy rain and high winds which blew down the tea tent gazebo kept numbers down for the two-day event on 25 & 26 May. All the same, visitors who braved the weather enjoyed the wonderful flower displays inspired by the saints, and featuring our medieval wall paintings of St George, St Christopher and St Edmund.

Proceeds grossing around £700, including some very generous donations, go to the Troston Heritage Appeal for the conservation of the wall paintings. After the deduction of some expenses, the total will be added - it is hoped - to a Heritage Lottery sum. The appeal group has applied for £50,000 to safeguard them from deterioration. The outcome should be known by September.

The appeal group warmly thanks all the volunteers who created the Flower Festival, including the children, those who made and/or served the refreshments, worked behind the scenes, took Songs of Praise and publicised the event, and who otherwise contributed to its success in any other way.

Sue and Ted Haynes showed a fascinating range of postcards of Troston past, while Pauline Whitaker-Bethel provided Troston memories on-screen. The Festival was teamed with Francine Raymond’s National Garden Scheme Open Garden opposite, at the Kitchen Garden, which was on view under the Scheme for the first time. The project was co-ordinated by Susan Sollohub (Heritage Group Secretary), Judith Brown (Group member), David Corrie (Chairman) and Canon Sally Fogden (Floral Display Organiser).

The flower arrangers included talented ladies from Troston, Honington, Bardwell, Euston and Great Livermere. Thank you everyone. The church looked wonderful!

Sue Sollohub