Profile – Shirley Sexton (2022)
After taking voluntary redundancy from the IT industry when I was in my early 50s I wanted to do something completely different so took up flower arranging. I started as a complete novice and over the next few years I completed all 4 levels of the NAFAS course.
I do a small amount of teaching and demonstrating at my club, but my main passion is competition work – taking a theme and coming up with a good design. I have won awards at local, area and national levels, including golds at RHS Chelsea and Harrogate Flower Shows. I became an area judge in 2010.
In 2007 I became BB&O Area Secretary which I did for four years. During this time I took on more media work for the area, and then officially became BB&O Area Media Officer in 2013 when the post was created. In this role I put my interest in good design to work in other ways. I was responsible for the complete revamp of the area website in 2016, and I continue to maintain and improve the website with my media team. I did all the design work for our area magazine, Focal Points, for several years until that publication was suspended. I am now responsible for coordinating the monthly electronic newsletters. I design most of the fliers for area events and general publicity.
I have been involved with a number of flower festivals, including leading the design team for ‘Deck the Halls’ Christmas Flower Festival at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel in November 2022.
Click here to email: Shirley Sexton
Mobile: 07766 316 966