Liverpool florist wins Young Chelsea Florist of the Year

May 25 2009 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

A YOUNG florist from a city centre store has landed a major prize at the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Joe Massie, 21, creative director at city centre florist Fishlocks, was named Young Chelsea Florist of the Year having overcome competition from more than 400 entrants at the Royal Horticultural Society’s most prestigious show.

Huyton-born Joe was given his chance by Fishlocks’ owner Richard Moore just three years ago, after the young designer made an approach for a Saturday job.

He came up with a flamboyant lady’s hat, designed with an eye-catching array of pink, purple and gold orchids, that really turned the Chelsea judges’ heads.

He said: “It was an extravagant creation which took more than 30 hours to produce and was even put to the test by judges for ‘wearability’. As you can imagine, the standard of entries was very high but to win it was unbelievable. I can’t thank Richard and the Fishlocks team enough for nurturing me this far.

“The first thing I’ll do when I get back this week is give them all a big hug, then it will be business as usual.”