Highland Fling – National President’s Weekend

In July I attended the Highland Fling in Glasgow accompanied by Brenda London and Ann Swain. We were the Home Counties representatives, joining delegates from all over the country and overseas. It was a very social weekend meeting friends and making new friends in an super Conference hotel, with excellent facilities, on the banks of the Clyde.

The journey was easy as we flew from Luton early on Friday morning and had Special Assistance due to Brenda’s restricted mobility. We were able to bypass the queues and were escorted in a mini-bus across the tarmac to the steps of the plane. That’s the way to travel!! When we arrived in Glasgow we dropped our luggage at the hotel and went to explore Glasgow on the Hop on Hop off Big Red Bus. It went all around the main areas of the city and we got off to have lunch in Mackintosh at the Willows. Then, a taxi back to the hotel for the events of the special weekend.

Lilias Hoskins, the National President, had organised an excellent weekend with a full programme of entertainment. The first evening we had dinner followed by entertainment by Simeone Wood , who played the flute, pan pipes and even a NHS walking stick!! He played many well-known tunes and had everyone amused for the rest of the evening.

On Saturday the morning began with a talk by Christine Logan, who makes bespoke hats for weddings and Ascot. She was very interesting to listen to whilst she described her craft and then allowed us to try on any of her large collection of designer hats. After a break for coffee and biscuits we went back into the Auditorium to listen to Brian Holmes, a real plantsman who gave an illustrated talk on irises. He had beautiful slides and also a super plant stall with lots of plants for flower arrangers. Unfortunately, we were travelling on an aeroplane so couldn’t bring any home.

In the afternoon we had a superb demonstration by Julia Loudon, a newly qualified National Demonstrator, who filled the stage with designs all based on Scottish life. Each design had amazing containers/ accessories that she had made, including a Celtic cross, a Scottish harp made from driftwood, some large thistle heads, some bagpipes and even a Highland cow looking over a fence. And they were just the containers! Her flowers were wonderful and she had us laughing all the afternoon. Again, no raffle tickets as how would you get a large arrangement on an easyjet plane!

The evening began with drinks on the terrace beside the river with two pipers in full Scottish dress playing for us before when had the Gala Dinner. Everyone was dressed up for the occasion and it was lovely to see all the very smart NAFAS ladies and gentlemen. After dinner we had entertainment by Mark Findley who sang songs from the 70s and 80s – just our type of music and it got everyone dancing and ‘really letting their hair down’. NAFAS members know how to have a good time and enjoy one another’s company.

There was another superb talk on Sunday morning given by Karen Frew, a National speaker and judge from Northern Ireland. Her topic was ‘Dior’ – the life and work of Christian Dior. On the stage she revealed some Dior style dresses and told us how he was inspired by flowers, especially Lily of the Valley that he always stitched into the hems of his dresses in the 50’s and 60’s to make his ladies smell sweet. It was fascinating listening to Karen as she loved her subject and she passed on her wide knowledge.

The weekend then finished with thanks to Lilias and her organising Committee and everyone began to disperse to all parts of the UK with lots of happy memories and new friends and contacts.

We all agreed that it had been a lovely weekend and it was a shame that numbers had been limited as I am sure many more from our area would have liked to come. Hopefully, there will be another one in the future – Ann, Brenda and I will be there!!

Carolyn Cranswick