Onslow Garden Club’s Coronation high tea

Tiaras glittered and pearls gleamed at the Onslow Garden Club’s coronation high tea on 6 May.

The event, held to mark the coronation of King Charles III, was organised by Clare Gleeson and Sue Skene, who founded the club three years ago.

Margaret Domett, a keen club member, hosted the event at her magnificent home, Crofton, the historic house in Ngaio built by Premier Fox in 1857.

In keeping with its imperial heritage, Crofton and its grounds were awash with red, white and blue as bunting, balloons and flags adorned the house inside and out.

Portraits of the King and Queen Camilla graced the hall where those who had been lucky enough to receive an invitation were welcomed with a celebratory glass of bubbles.

The tea was served at two long tables and included the Coronation quiche, delicate sandwiches of cucumber and cream cheese, scones with cream and jam, cream sponges, cakes and slices. Having sipped, eaten and chatted the guests swapped tea and food for pen and paper to complete the club’s quiz on royalty and plants.

After much discussion, pen chewing and laughter everyone then returned to the lounge for prizegiving.

As it was a garden club celebration, plants and flowers were to the fore and attendees were asked to wear a corsage they had made themselves.

Despite the challenges of seasonal lack of flowers and the recent rain, some fabulous corsages were created and the judge had a hard time awarding the prize.

However, size and wildlife won out and Sarah Sawrey’s confection of flowers, fruits, ladybirds and bees stole the winner’s crown.

Janeen Gillies knew the most answers to the very tricky quiz questions and Alison Rusbridge, who had catered for the event, was closest to guessing the correct number of royal acorns in the bowl.

As guests piled into their waiting carriages all agreed the Onslow Garden Club had celebrated the coronation in style and it had been a right regal event.