Doddy turns on Liverpool Cathedral’s magical flower power

Jun 29 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

A JAM butty mine made of red carnations was just one of the unusual sights greeting the special guest of a special flower festival celebrating Liverpool’s 800th birthday.

Veteran entertainer Ken Dodd officially opened the four-day festival in Liverpool Cathedral yesterday.

The show, Liverpool 800 years, sees special arrangements by the cathedral’s own flower arrangers and has attracted groups from around the region to take part.

One of the main talking points of the event is the “street party” display, with everything from cakes to sausage rolls made of flowers.

The 800th birthday celebration displays are located in the Lady Chapel, where Dodd yesterday met the florists and opened the festival.

Local groups depicted scenes from Liverpool’s history in a variety of displays from King John granting the charter of the city in 1207, through medieval times, to the shipping tradition and Beatlemania.

Arrangers from St Peter’s Church, in Formby, recreated a horse jumping Becher’s Brook, at the Grand National, in their exhibit dedicated to the sporting history of the region.

Hundreds of visitors visited the festival on its first day.

Surrounded by eager fans, Dodd joked: “It is a great honour, privilege and pleasure to be here . . . so early.

“If I had to chose what flower I’d be, well, it couldn’t be anything that had to be cultivated – a dandelion, perhaps.

“It is breathtaking to see the love and creativity that has gone into all these beautiful exhibits.”

He was “thrilled” to have had floral jam butties made in his honour, and told the Daily Post: “The Knotty Ash jam butty mine idea was marvellous – that’s Liverpool, you see, full of funny ideas.

“This is probably the most beautiful building in Britain and it is always a joy to come here.”

Muriel Simpson, of The Flower Team, headed the group behind the special Doddy display – complete with Diddymen – as well as several others, including one at the high altar.

She said: “I just thought Ken Dodd is such a great character and so much fun that we really should do a fun thing just for him.”

Festival director Alethea Fielding said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have had such great support.”

It is only the third flower festival to be held in the cathedral since 1970.

Stalls including fine art, ceramics, jewellery and a hanging baskets area were also on show.

The flower festival runs throughout the cathedral until Sunday afternoon, and will be visited by Lord Mayor Paul Clark today.

vickyanderson