Opening of Flowers & Romance Festival

12 February 2004

Good evening.

On other nights, and days, I have gradually learnt there are some topics where to be brief is a very good thing. Gardening is one such subject. Romance, sadly is another.
I did take Pam home some flowers once but it was so unusual an action it did not work out like in the chocolate ads. She was more wary than cheery shall we say. I guess as partners go I'm more the durable type, a Labrador type of husband.

But even within my accountancy trained heart there is still an ember of romance. In recent years we have found this flame can be fanned quite nicely during romance festival time.

Like many others we have come to thoroughly enjoy the events that take place. This year, with a shorter time frame, and the marriage with the festival of flowers, I think we are going to see a more intense, colourful sense of romance to this event.

As well as the chance to enjoy a reminder of why we are the world's greatest Garden City we will also show the world that we all have a slight shred of the romantic to our nature as well.

We will hear reminders that some skills, like some marriages, just get better with time and practice.

On the creative front I'm thinking in particular of Maurice Till who will give his 50th anniversary recital at the Great Hall tomorrow night. What a great achievement. It is also a great reminder of how much talent, new, developing and mature we have in this city.

I now declare this, the Flowers and Romance Festival, officially open.