Meet the Executive Team
Linda McGannity - Area President
I have been a member of NAFAS for over 40 years. It is an immense honour and privilege to be our Area Vice President, a position I will try to support Judith Woollven wherever I can. I was originally a member of Liskeard Floral Club, now Camborne-Redruth since Newquay Club closed. I was also a member of Poole and Parkstone in Dorset where I passed my Area Demonstrator’s test, and attended college and gained City and Guilds qualifications. I went on to teaching students including City and Guilds. I have always enjoyed arranging flowers in religious settings including Westminster Abbey and I am now the Leader of Truro Cathedral Flower Guild, a position I am honoured to hold. I am on various committees here and in the past in Dorset. I attend meetings at Osborne House for the Teachers, and St Botolph’s Church in London for Area Chairmen. Supporting Club, Area, and National events is a special joy and formed many friendships over the years. What a fabulous hobby – thank you to you all.
Rose Joynes - Area Chairman
Having retired from 34 years of teaching in 2004, I needed a hobby. (I had little spare time before!) I was encouraged to join Camborne-Redruth Floral club and a few years later I was invited to join the committee. I took on the role of chairman in 2013 for 4 years and took up the role again in 2018, following my role as secretary. I enjoy being involved in workshops and demonstrations. I still run workshops for members of my own club; with another member of the club, I have also been involved in delivering workshops for the W.I. in Cornwall and doing demonstrations to local floral clubs, WI clubs and garden societies. I was also privileged to be invited to judge the children’s section at Stithians agricultural show for 2 consecutive years and I have also judged the floral art sections at local village shows. I was invited to join the Executive in November 2021 and became Area Vice-Chairman in November 2022.
Jane Silver - Area Treasurer
I joined Barnstaple Floral Art Club in 2016 and within a year became a committee member with an initial role as Joint Treasurer, then Treasurer followed by a couple years as the Secretary and finally as Vice- Chair. The flower club has afforded many opportunities to become involved in the clubs activities and make many friends. In 2023 I was asked to join the Brunel Residential committee which ran the very successful 10th Residential course in March 2024 and I will continue in the role of Treasurer for the 2026 Residential course. I love working with flowers and as an events volunteer at NT Arlington Court have been able to help with making posies for donations, many wreaths for Christmas and large foliage reindeer heads and owls for display. I am Rotarian and involve myself in several local community projects including working with Barnstaple in Bloom.
Alison Penno
With thanks to my Mum I was introduced to the world of floral design at a very early age. Having grown up with flowers it was inevitable I would choose floristry as a career and also join the NAFAS family. I am a member of Links Designer Club, where I have been involved on the committee and also chaired.
Being a member of NAFAS has brought so many opportunities to me, the most memorable were exhibiting, at Flowers at Oxford and RHS Chelsea, winning silver gilt medals on two occasions. Working in a team for the Devon & Cornwall area and competing in the Florist of the Year.
In 2015 I passed the area test, this has resulted in me visiting many clubs in the area. I have also demonstrated in Ireland and Portugal. In 2021 I went on to pass the National Demonstrators Test.