Deborah Richardson NDSF FSF LCGI
Guildford College
Merrist Wood Campus
Worplesdon
Guildford
Surrey
GU3 3PE
Tel: 01483 884069
07896638520
Email: deborahsof@hotmail.co.uk
welcome to the Society of Floristry website.
I have been involved in the floristry industry for over 30 years. I began learning floristry at an evening class 33 years ago with a view to working in a florists' shop - I never wanted the mess and inconvenience of working from home, and it's often the case that such work is undervalued by the customer. I bought my first shop in 1980, one previously owned by Geoffrey Warren who had emigrated to Australia and who subsequently became President of Interflora there. My second shop followed in 1986, and I sold that business in 1991. My third shop was purchased in 1992 and sold in 1997 as I had by then become a full-time college Head of Department and my partners wished to retire. I kept that role at Writtle College for 15years, and left there in the summer of '08 to join my present college. I am a strong advocate of college education for florists, both as a means of joining the industry and for keeping up-to-date with innovation.
I am extremely proud to hold this office, following in the footsteps of so many illustrious florists who have championed excellence before me. Floristry has given me so many things - a lifetime of the most pleasant work around, friends, travel and countless hours of creative pleasure. There's no better job in the world. I see it as my role to be an ambassador for that job, for its skill, professionalism and sheer joy. I hope I prove to be up to the task.
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