Royal flower power at Pendine Park care homes

A flower arranger who decorated Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton has been helping Pendine Park care home residents make flower baskets fit for a future queen.



Wendy Davis was one of five members of the floral committee at Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod who popped in to dispense top tips.

The committee's spectacular floral display in front of the pavilion stage in Llangollen is one of the colourful highlights of the annual festival of music and dance.

Pendine Park is one of the event's long-term supporters and has joined forces with Sir Bryn Terfel to sponsor the International Voice of the Future via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust.

As part of the arrangement, Wendy and her fellow floral arrangers held a masterclass with the residents of four of Pendine's care homes - Penybryn, Cae Bryn, Highfield and Bryn Bella.

Wendy, a retired mechanical engineer and Wrexham CID administration officer, is one of the UK's most talented flower arrangers and a former chair of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.

In that role she helped decorate Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding and a host of other royal occasion.

Earlier this year she represented Wales at a floral arts judges' seminar in Hydrabad, in India.

According to Wendy, she had a blooming marvellous time helping the Pendine Park make flower arrangements for their rooms.

She said: "I've been a member of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod's floral committee for 25 years and we have a busy time ahead of us preparing for the eisteddfod.

"But it's wonderful coming to care homes such as Pendine Park and working with residents to make floral arrangements they can keep."

"I always enjoy coming to Pendine Park as my own sister, Alma Hughes, was so well cared for when she was a resident here.

"Sadly, Alma suffered from early onset dementia and lived here for five years before she passed away three years ago. She was so well cared for, it's a lovely, lovely care environment."