Published: Friday, 14th November, 2008 09:30
Florist wins Scots' accolade
By Steve McElroy
Print Article
WINNER: Debbie Gough with her certificates.
Pic by: Petra Boyce
A FLORIST is aiming to become the best in the UK after winning the Scottish Interflora Florist of the Year — for the fourth time.
Helensburgh woman Debbie Gough, of Plantation in James Street, reclaimed the title against eight other Interflora florists from all over Scotland at Polmont.
A delighted Debbie said: “The competition consisted of four heats over a year where we are set four different aspects of floristry.
“The florists with the highest marks wins and I had the highest marks in all four heats.”
Debbie now goes forward to represent Scotland in the UK final which takes place in Manchester next April, an event she has come fourth in but this time is hoping to get at least into the top three.
Debbie, who has been operating for 20 years at Plantation, added: “The best thing about competing at this level is that it really challenges your creativity and focuses your attention on what the judges are looking for.
“This in some ways is what our customers come to us for, a well-made product that suits the occasion, a keen eye for detail — and just a bit wow.”
Debbie’s winning designs involved a wall decoration suitable for an art exhibition in Paris.
She added: “I was struggling to come up with an idea for it.
“The obvious was to put in red, white and blue flowers, but I avoided that and instead came up with a floral design and a title for it which I wrote in French.”
The timing of the competition coincided with Hallowe’en and Debbie also designed three different costumes for her children — which also proved to be winners all in the same weekend.
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