There are truly some occasions that you see raised time and time again. Where a fuller context is often not seen by those outside the situation. An intention to steer a narrative of discontent to inform others of malice, where there was none.
Case in point is the “matter of flowers.”
There are clear, strong personalities who beat a drum of calling. Claire Davy, a person I have known for several years, has in general always had lively conversations, a cordial relationship, and would consider a friend.
Claire and I would present a number of webinars together. Attended the ASSAP conference and Ghost Club meeting. We would communicate by phone and messenger and engage in usually positive ways. Claire would encourage me a number of times to join the committee of ASSAP and join the Ghost Club. I understood Claire to be the Secretary of ASSAP, in terms of governance, admin and legal.
She did speak to me on voice messenger of exasperation, frustration, fatigue and being overwhelmed as Secretary. Spoke candidly about people and shared her thoughts about them. Claire took a holiday, and whether before or after, from my recollection, she resigned her position or had already done so.
I have come to understand that, following the resignation, flowers were ordered from Tony Jones Florist below.
I have come to understand that a similar selection of flowers was also sent to Becky, costing £50 each.
There are social media posts by Claire, late in 2024, which stated that these were funeral flowers, and thus sent maliciously to convey that intent and message. As this topic has risen a few times, and again here in April 2025.
To find closure on this point, reached out to the Florists directly, to their records of the order, and this was the florist’s response:
I do not know the conversations that were occurring at the time. As relationships strained under the discovery that administration challenges, changes to documentation were occurring, out-of-date filings by more than a decade with Companies House and the Charity Commission. Committee members not being registered with Companies House. Having to rollback to documentation previously logged, what the committee structure looked like, what stood and what didn’t. Different ideas for solutions and expectations. Where responsibilities lie.
It is understandable that views and perceptions may have felt personal, that the intentional sending of funeral flowers would truly give a terrible impression.
Hopefully bringing closure to this aspect, the matter of flowers, the flowers were not funeral flowers, they were gifted as a thank you to the time in role. Any perception is a personal one.
This is the message wrote by Hugh Pincott on the card, that was dictated to the Florist over the phone.
“Far more things unite than divide us. The Exec hopes we can soon start working together amicably. We need your strengths.”
