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June 2005
The summer is by tradition a very busy time at Constance Spry and this year is no exception. A full complement of students and a hectic calendar are the order of the day. SPRY NEWS: >> Chelsea 2005 >> School News >> Two Week Change of Career Course >>Tilford Church FLOWERS: >> The Constance Spry Rose FOOD: >> Inspiration for the picnic hamper LIFESTYLE: >> The Henley Royal Regatta |
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Chelsea Flower Show 2005
The Chelsea Flower Show should have signalled the beginning of summer but instead the Tuesday felt much more like mid-winter although the weather improved in the later part of the week. The cool and blustery weather meant that some of the gardens did not display as much colour as they should have done. With their usual resilience visitors came and saw but were shy when it came to purchases. The RHS had moved our stand to Eastern Avenue this year and we had no idea what this would mean in commercial terms. Unfortunately a lot of our regulars as we have since discovered could not find us and we believe that overall it had an adverse effect on sales. The extra day on Saturday did nothing to improve this. Fortunately there was good news from the Floristry Marquee where our students' demonstrations were crowd stoppers and many visitors loitered to enquire about our courses. School News by Sue Eldridge Phew! Where do we start? May and June are the busiest time of the school year with staff and students stretched to the limit. The past month has seen the first Diploma group of the year take their final exams. 3 days of intense pressure and a day of re takes. All was well in the end and we are happy to say that finally everyone got through. Well done and good luck for the next bit of your career enjoy the wonderful world of flowers. Chelsea week is always a mix of high creative tension and pure pleasure. The School as usual was invited to demonstrate and exhibit in the floristry marquee. We decided this year to fill the stand with flowers in gold, peach and white. All the students took part and had an opportunity to demonstrate their skills. At one time we had so many people around the stand the whole aisle was blocked and had to be moved on. Everyone, it seems, enjoys watching an expert florist at work. We have also welcomed at the school during Chelsea week visiting students from schools in Japan who experienced arranging garden style flowers in the 'English Country House' and decorating a local church taking long lasting and happy memories back to Japan. Finally we welcome this week new students taking the Spry Teachers Certificate. The timetable covers practical teaching experience, lectures and visits to other schools to get a wide view and range of ideas. More news of them next month when the hard work begins---- putting the portfolio together. Two week change of career course Are you fed up with your job and think that working with flowers could be an exciting and rewarding change? It is a huge and difficult decision to make so we have devised a short CAREER CHANGE course to help you decide. An opportunity to try your hand on some of the simpler flower skills that could just get you started. More important, we have an input of basic relevant business studies so important in the modern business world. For more info contact Sue Eldridge, Director of Studies on 00 44 (0)1252 734477 or at info@constancespry.com Tilford church On Thursday 2nd June, 13 students accompanied by Fumiko Nakamura, from Constance Spry Japan, decorated Tilford Church as a class workshop. Working under the instruction of the Principal Fred Wilkinson they created 13 arrangements in situ. When the decorations where completed they where enjoyed by the visitors to 2 concerts organised by the Tilford Bach Society on the 3rd and 4th June and the congregation at the Sunday service. Each of the groups was specifically designed for a suitable place in the church. All the foliages where picked at the school the day before which gave the arrangements a real country and natural effect and style. After a picnic lunch and a photograph session the team happily boarded their coach for Heathrow to return to Tokyo. Their work was widely admired by organisers and visitors to the Church during the week-end |
 Students at Chelsea Flower Show floristry marquee  Constance Spry Stand at Chelsea Flower Show  Flower arrangement at Chelsea  Change of career course |
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 The Constance Spry Rose |
The Constance
Spry Rose ITS CREATOR David Austin was born in 1926, on the farm where he now lives. He is the son of a farmer and was farming before going into business as a nurseryman in the early 1960s From an early age, he has been interested in gardening and first turned to plant breeding through a friend of his father's, Mr. James Baker of Baker's Nurseries. James Baker was introducing new varieties of hardy plants, including Russell's lupins, phloxes, delphiniums and so on. In the 1940s, a copy of George Bunyard's book on Old Roses gave him the idea of crossing Old Roses with Modern Roses. The Old Roses - that is the Gallicas, Damasks, Albas, etc. - had all but died out at that time. His objective being to create new roses in the style of Old Roses, thus combining the unique charm and fragrance of Old Roses with the wide colour range and repeat-flowering qualities of Modern Roses. He was also particularly interested in producing well formed shrubs that would make good garden plants. The first variety he introduced was 'Constance Spry' in 1963, followed by Chianti in 1967 and Shropshire Lass in 1968, they only flowered once in early summer. From these, he developed repeat flowering varieties with similar flowers, the first group being introduced in 1969 and included Wife of Bath and Canterbury. He called these 'English Roses', as the name seemed to symbolise roses. When 'Graham Thomas' and 'Mary Rose' were introduced at Chelsea in 1983, English Roses quickly gained popularity both in this country and the rest of the world. Since that time he has introduced over one hundred and fifty varieties. David Austin started David Austin Roses in 1969, largely with the objective of introducing English Roses, as other rose nurseries were not particularly interested in them at the time. Later, his eldest son, David J.C. Austin, joined him in the business. David Austin Roses remains a family business, employing over 100 people and growing over 1.2 million roses per year. Now 78, David Austin is still very active at the nursery dividing his time between the breeding programme and writing. David Austin was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2003 for his services to horticulture and the Dean Hole Medal by the Royal National Rose Society. He has received an Honorary MSc from the University of East London for his work on rose breeding. He received the lifetime achievement award from the Garden Centre Association in 2004 THE PLANT is a large shrub best planted as a climber because of its vigorous nature. It has bowl shaped, often called peony shaped, true rich pink blooms. It flowers in June for a period of three weeks only. Its scent has been described as old myrrh. |
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| Inspiration for the picnic hamper Now that the season is under way the picnic hampers will once again be brought down from the attic, dusted and packed with delicious food to be savoured al fresco. Here are some original ideas for such occasions as Henley or Glyndebourne from the Constance Spry Cookery Book. Omelet in a roll Slice open the top of a fresh oval-shaped roll, remove the crumb, butter (use margarine if preferred) the inside of the shell. Make an omelette with two eggs and turn it straight into the roll while hot. A baguette may be used to contain a big omelette and can then be cut in thick slices. You may like to have omelets of different flavour, perhaps one of fines herbes or one of cheese, and serve a thick slice of each. A good tomato salad packed in a bottling jar (today we have more practical and lighter plastic containers) may be taken along to be eaten with the omelets. Gannat A variety of cheese brioche, excellent for a luncheon bread or for a picnic, sandwiched with cream of Liptauer cheese. Ingredients: 8oz (240g) flour ¼ gill milk 1 level dessert spoon salt 2 eggs ½ oz (15g) yeast 4 oz (120g) grated gruyere cheese 1 level teaspoon sugar salt, pepper, cayenne pepper 2 oz (60g) butter beaten egg or milk to finish Sift flour with salt into a bowl. Cream yeast with the sugar. Slice the butter into the milk and warm gently through to melt. Poor on to the yeast and the eggs well beaten. Stir then add to the flour and mix up to a soft dough. Cover the bowl and set to rise for about an hour. Then work in two-thirds of the cheese and plenty of seasoning. Knead just enough to mix thouroughly. Put in a large sandwich tin or flan ring; pat out with the fist to flatten well. It should be about 1 inch tick in the tin. Brush lightly with beaten egg or milk, scatter over the rest of the cheese. Prove for 7-10 minutes, then bake in a quick oven for 20-25 minutes. Devilled chicken (cold or hot) For a picnic when transport is not a problem or for a supper dish. It must be prepared a day in advance. Serve in a casserole with an accompanying casserole of cold boiled rice, dry and flaky. Simmer a boiling fowl till tender with vegetables and a bouquet garni. Leave in cooking liquor until cold; then skin, joint, slice into convenient pieces, brush over with melted butter and grill quickly on both sides until well browned. Lay in a casserole, pour over while hot devil sauce 2 (see book) to moisten nicely. Leave until the next day t allow the flavour to soak into the chicken. You may with advantage heat up cooked chicken in a sauce made as follows: 1 gill cream 2 teaspoons dry English mustard 1 tablespoon curry paste seasoning 1 teaspoon French mustard Heat ingredients gently without allowing them to boil Bon Apetit! For thousand of great ideas for all occasions, hundreds of tips and some wonderful anecdotes you should buy this wonderful book. Available in bookshops now. |
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| The Henley Royal Regatta The Season is now in full swing. This year we focus on the premier rowing event in the country: The Henley Royal Regatta 1- History Henley Royal Regatta is the climax of the rowing season which was first held in 1839 and has been held annually ever since, except during the two World Wars. Originally staged by the Mayor and people of Henley as a public attraction with a fair and other amusements, the emphasis rapidly changed so that competitive amateur rowing became its main purpose. The 1839 Regatta took place on a single afternoon but proved so popular with oarsmen that the racing lasted for two days from 1840. In 1886 the Regatta was extended to three days and to four in 1906. Since 1928 its increased popularity meant entries exceeded the permitted numbers in several events, and so qualifying races are now held in the week before the Regatta to reduce the number of entries to the permitted maximum. In 1986 the Regatta was extended to five days, with an increase in the maximum entry for certain events. ROYAL PATRONAGE In 1851 H.R.H. Prince Albert became the Regatta's first Royal Patron. Since the death of The Prince Consort, the reigning Monarch has always consented to become Patron. This patronage means the Regatta can be called Henley Royal Regatta. During the course of its history, the Regatta has often been honoured by visits of members of the Royal Family, of which the most recent was that of H.R.H. The Princess Royal in 1999. The Regatta is always held in the first week of July, with qualifying races taking place in the previous week. The event lasts five days from Wednesday to Sunday, all the finals are raced on the Sunday. 2- Location & Facilities The Regatta takes place on the River Thames at Henley. - The Steward's enclosure is the best vantage point. It is only open to members and their guests. Gaining membership is for those connected with rowing and prepared to join a very long waiting list. Tickets for lunch and tea are available but many Members and guests prefer to picnic in the adjacent car park. - The Regatta enclosure is open to the general public and offers very good facilities including bars and cover from the elements as well as deck chairs at the river's edge and stands to watch the races. Picnics are not allowed within the enclosure. Tickets may be booked in advance or paid for in cash at the entrance. Prices are from £8 on Wednesday rising to £10 on Sunday. Car park labels are £17 on Wednesday and Thursday and £18 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All tickets and labels can be bought in advance from Regatta headquarters from 1st May. 3- Dress As with so many other events the dress code varies depending on which enclosure you are in. - The Steward's enclosure has very strict rules: Gentlemen are expected to wear lounge suits, jackets or blazers with flannels and a tie or cravat. Ladies are not allowed to wear trousers, shorts or culottes and their dress/skirt's hemline must be below the knee. - The Regatta enclosure: no such restriction apply there. |
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more details about our courses and products contact: Martine on 01252 734477 or e-mail: info@constancespry.com Website: www.constancespry.com To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please e-mail: unsubscribe@constancespry.com |
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