Father of Covent Garden Flower Market dies
Dennis Edwards, the man known as the Father of New Covent Garden Flower Market, sadly died on July 19th.
Starting in the flower industry at the age of 17 as a porter Dennis not only went on to build a successful business but was renowned for his ability to source the impossible, like Lily of the Valley when it wasn’t commercially available and provided the flowers for Princess Diana’s funeral.
However the news of his passing didn’t just cause an outpouring of love and support across the social media channels for him and his beloved family but he was given this fabulous tribute on ITV London’s local news; a unique acknowledgement of a man who had helped so many when they started out but went on to be their support and ... on some occasions ... their saviour as their careers took off.
Caroline Marshall-Foster with Dennis Edwards at Simon Lycett's book launch last year.
Having known Dennis all her working life, our Editor interviewed Dennis in our special Jubilee issue back in 2017 .... you can read it here .... and recalls a man who, for more than 40 years was part of her working life and never, ever let her leave the market without a bunch of flowers and more than once bailed her out when she had forgotten something for a shoot or installation!!
In terms of what customers thought of Dennis these tributes from Simon Lycett and Shane Connolly sum up the feeling of so many.
Simon Lycett
On the first day I visited Covent Garden Flower Market I met this man - he showed me nothing but kindness and support for the more than 30 years that we have known one another. It is with great sadness I learned that he died, and my heartfelt sympathy is with his wife Jude and daughter Billie and his family and friends. I am thrilled that I knew him and that I dedicated my soon-to-be-published book People Of The Flower Market to Dennis Edwards and to the other men and women working in New Covent Garden Flower Market. A small acknowledgement of the enormous contribution that they have made and continue to make to my life and to the lives of those to whom we add our floral fabulousness. Rest Well Dear Dennis. X
Shane Connolly
It was with great sadness I heard the news that Dennis Edwards had died. Dennis was one of the boys of the old brigade. His knowledge of flowers was second to none and he shared it generously.
He always worked for the best suppliers in the Market and then started his own stand, which is also, predictably, the best too.
I’d known Dennis since I started my business in 1989 and not once, in all those years, did he ever let me down. He was always there with a smile, kind words, a bit of gossip and a joke. Always a joke. And the jokes were always a bit risqué too.
He was delightfully naughty.
Dennis helped me source British Grown flowers for two Royal weddings, even though he mostly dealt with Dutch suppliers. And he did it with discretion and enthusiasm combined.
And felt honoured to be involved.
It is people like Dennis who make it possible for us Florist’s do what we do yet they rarely get the credit.
They actually have as much anxiety over the order as we do over the designs.
I will never forget Dennis and will always feel grateful to him for his support and friendship.
The New Covent Garden Flower Market will never be the same again.
Rest in Peace dear Dennis.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
On Friday 14th August the funeral of the Late Dennis Edwards will take place and due to current COVID 19 restrictions a very limited number will attend. For those wishing to pay their respects and say a last goodbye to a Flower Market Legend, Dennis’s Funeral Cortège will arrive at New Covent Garden Flower Market at 10.00am for his final visit to this iconic London institution into which he is so tightly woven.
Onto Dennis’s old barrow which like him saw service within the original Covent Garden Flower Market, his fellow wholesalers will displace flowers and mourners are encouraged to take some as a remembrance and to place them upon the hearse.
There will be a collections box by the barrow, all donations will go to Cancer Research.
At 10.30am the Cortège will depart for the Funeral Service which will be live-screened within New Covent Garden Flower Market at Noon. @marketflowers have suspended all parking fees for those wishing to attend.
If you are unable to attend, the link for the webcast is ...
Username: Xibu6448
Password: 733601
If you would like to send flowers please have them delivered to W.G Miller, 93 Essex Road, N1 2SJ between 3:30 and 4:30pm on Thursday, August 13th. For those who would rather make a charitable donation to Cancer Research, the Edwards family have created a Just Giving page to do so. The link for this is https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/remembering-dennis-edwards
Below an amazing installation created by friends of Dennis at Covent Garden Market.
To read Dennis's views on the industry, men in floristry and how he got into flowers in the first place click here
