WorldSkills UK Floristry Training Manager, Laura Leong, has been crowned Interflora Florist of the Year in a tense final at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Laura, of The Flower Basket in Stourbridge, pumped the air as the scores were announced, and after beating off stiff competition from four other very talented florists. She will now go forward to represent the Interflora British Unit at the FTD Interflora World Cup in Philadelphia, USA in March 2019.
During the Grand Final, which took place in front of a live audience in the Floral Design Studio at Hampton Court Palace, Laura and her fellow competitors had to create three floral items in line with the ‘Summer Garden Party’ theme; a parasol and table decoration and a gift arrangement including a bottle of champagne. The fourth item, a floral picnic basket, was made in advance of the show and brought along for judging.
Laura is currently training the Floristry competitor for Team UK, Elizabeth Newcombe, as she prepares for EuroSkills Budapest 2018, which takes place 26-28 September.
