GREAT Malvern Priory was a riot of colour when it played host to an exhibition by Malvern Floral Art Club celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary.

Group members created intricate and artistic displays in the church using fresh and dried flowers on the theme Golden Fanfare.

Sandra Starkey of the group said the flower festival, from Saturday to Tuesday, had been a success, and proceeds from donations will be split between the priory and the Friends of Malvern Community Hospital.

The money donated to the Friends will go towards the appeal to buy a scanner for the hospital’s pain relief clinic, supported by the Gazette’s Ease the Pain campaign.

Three members of the Friends, Carol Pike, Maureen Williams and Sheila Young, are also members of the floral arts club and contributed one of the arrangements.

Mrs Williams said: “The church looked absolutely beautiful with all the floral arrangements and I believe there were a lot of visitors.

“Everybody said how lovely it looked. We don’t know how much the donations have raised yet, but one of the stewards told my husband that a lot of money seemed to be coming in.”

So far, the appeal has raised £35,141 towards the £60,000 cost of the scanner. Mrs Williams said an anonymous donation of £1,000 was made this week.

“We’re very grateful to the donor, and to everyone who had helped us. Now we’ve got less than £25,000 to raise, and I hope people will join with us in fund-raising so we can buy this vital piece of equipment,”

she said.

Mrs Williams will be running a fund-raising stall at the hospital on Wednesday, and the next major event in the calendar is a shopping experience at the hospital on Saturday, August 17.

Malvern Floral Art Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Hanley Swan village hall. Annual subscription is £26 but visitors can attend meetings for £5.

If you have any appeal news, call Robert Hale on 01905 742283 or e-mail rh@ malverngazette.co.uk.