Say it With Flowers

A Luton student, who set up a celebration cakes and flowers business, built a jet aircraft out of flowers.

Kerry Sykes, who graduated from Barnfield College with a National Certificate in Floristry, was asked to build a four-foot Red Arrow taking off.
Mrs Sykes has been awarded a Medal of Excellence by City & Guilds for the quality of her work during the course.

"The gentleman had been a pilot with the Red Arrows and his family wanted to remember him in an appropriate way," she said. "I love flowers, they are incredible. They are beautiful in their natural state rather than colouring them."
Mrs Sykes has always enjoyed cake decorating, making sugar craft flowers and arranging flowers for her local church. "When I decided to set up my own company, Parfait Cakes and Flowers, I thought I should take a full-time course. I had already completed two evening courses at Barnfield."

The Medal of Excellence sets a new record for her floristry tutor Caroline Bracey and Barnfield College. It is the eighth medal won by Barnfield. Caroline Bracey received a medal herself and taught the seven winning students.
Pete Birkett, Barnfield's Chief Executive, said: "This is a fantastic achievement - we are all very proud of Kerry. This is also a great testament to the excellent training the floristry staff in the College provide.

"About 450,000 students are nominated each year and 115 medals of excellence are awarded. Kerry is a very talented and professional student who has worked very hard."

Mrs Sykes will receive her record-setting medal at a gala evening in London in April.