In Memory of Ken Turner - King of flower design
It is with sadness I announce the death of Kenneth Turner … in my opinion one of the greatest floral designers who didn’t just create amazing designs but inspired a whole generation to see floristry (or floral decoration as he preferred to call it) differently.
Born in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, Kenneth studied horticulture and landscape gardening, going onto Reading to continue his studies. However, as he said in a 1987 interview with the New York Times, he wanted something ‘more theatrical’ than lecturing on horticulture.
Fortunately, a chance encounter led to an introduction to leading society florist Pulbrook & Gould. Founded in 1956 by Susan, Lady Pulbrook and Rosamund Gould, who herself trained with the legendary creative Constance Spry, it was a strict but amazing start for many a top designer as Kenneth explained "When I trained at Lady Pulbrook's, Mrs. Gould trained us properly. We spent a month in each department and a year just learning to wire flowers."
But he obviously learned well as he went on to become Head Decorator – as I say Kenneth never felt florist was the right title – only leaving to open his own shop in Avery Row, London. A shop that oozed style and elegance and not unsurprisingly saw him build up a client base of the rich, famous and Royal - indeed he gained a Royal Warrant in 1996.
But whilst his party and event installations were unbelievably opulent - with budgets beyond most people’s dreams - it was Kenneth’s love of nature and all things natural that guided him as he explained. "The aim in decorating should always be to exceed expectations, to surprise and amaze the beholder, to stimulate the eye and the mind, to celebrate the inherent beauty of the natural world. Nature does not jar the eye yet is full of surprises. If you take nature as a model and emulate her, you cannot go far wrong."
Indeed, look at his 1993 book The Floral Decorator and quite apart from giggling at both the inscription and introduction (Kenneth did not pull his punches and 'nice' was most definitely not a word he wanted associated with any floral décor!) in truth, page after page is filled with designs that are copied and emulated today … just I can tell a Connie Spry influenced design so I can see a KT in people’s work!
And whilst he did use foam, he much preferred moss, netting and chicken wire. Although on the latter – and confirmed in a 1998 Financial Times interview by Lucia van der Post - he was quick to point out that you ‘don't crunch it, you sculpt it’.
Describing him as a ‘class act’, she was attending a course at the Kenneth Turner Flower School in Moulton Street … one of THE places to learn the art of floral decorating (special tribute here to Sharon Melehi who worked so closely with him) and a natural extension of his business activities that by the late 90’s had seen him pioneering the art of dried flower design, write more books and launch a range of fragrances. Fragrances which, as I discovered when I spoke to the current owner of the Kenneth Turner brand yesterday, are to be relaunched simply because there have been so many requests for his original collection.
However, for me Kenneth’s biggest legacy are the florists who worked with him in the 70’, 80’s and 90’s - many of whom have gone on to achieve their own greatness - and the hundreds and thousands who bought his books or attended his courses and used his amazing knowledge, ability and willingness to share.
Because behind the flamboyant designs and A-list client base, was a man who inspired, encouraged and enthused.
Back in 1978 he said that he wanted to be the Cecil Beaton of the flower industry. In one of the many tributes appearing on social media feed, leading floral designer @paulthomasflowers not only thanks him for being a mentor and friend but a true genius who changed the whole way we worked with flowers and The King of Flowers to whom he owed so much.
I’d like to think that Mr T will somehow know how much he was loved and appreciated.
Caroline Marshall-Foster
Editor
