Joan Forbes, a floral legend | Sunday Observer

Joan Forbes, a floral legend

19 February, 2017
Joan with her daughter
Joan with her daughter
Joan Forbes needs no introduction, her floral arrangements and floral art having adorned the homes of Presidents, Prime Ministers, stately homes, hotels and yachts, celebrates 45 years in the industry on February 24, which also happens to be her birthday.

This remarkable woman who was a mere 19 year old, when she first ventured out as a florist, juggled the duties of a newly wed, a mother and a career woman while in her teens; no mean feat indeed.

However, Joan initially had set her eyes on becoming a caterer as she was very accomplished in this area, and enjoyed turning out a variety of delicacies for the delectation of her friends and family. At the age of 17 she undertook her first order of food for a VIP cocktail party. Having delivered her order, Joan eagerly awaited her first payment as she wanted to buy herself a lipstick among other things. “My mother wouldn’t allow me to wear lipstick and therefore I couldn’t wait to have my own money so I could go out and buy one.” Alas, this was not to be as Joan never got paid for her delicious food.

Joan married Brian Forbes at the age of 19 and it was thanks to her sister in law, Lorraine Abeysekere, who was a florist in London that she came to take this path, which today sees her at the top of her chosen profession. “My sister in law was emigrating to Australia and she just told me to take over her business and that was how it happened. Nothing was planned or premeditated, it just happened.”

Joan’s first job was the wedding of June Boralassa’s cousin. “My sister in law Lorraine had undertaken to do the wedding, and I did it.”

Joan counts among her greatest supporters, Janet Balasuriya and Mano Muthukrishna who once said “even dead flowers arranged by Joan are beautiful”. “Janet and I worked together; Janet dressed brides and I did their flowers,” says Joan.

As for her most memorable and cherished assignments, “they were the visits of the two Popes to Sri Lanka. To me there is nothing more I could have asked for”, says Joan who is a devout Catholic.

Among Joan’s most significant achievements is being invited in April 2002 to serve on the panel of judges at the International Flower Show in Quebec, Canada. It was the very first time that a South Asian was selected to serve on the panel of judges. Joan also represented Sri Lanka at the International Flower Show where 15 countries participated and secured for her motherland the third place. Her entry ‘A land like no other’ was a work of art indeed. “I also won the first prize for the orchid display, as well as third place for the Best Collection of Foliage,”she said.

Joan has participated in trade fairs in Singapore and the UK and conducted floral workshops in India. She is an active member of Zonta, a founder member of the Women’s Chamber for Industry and Commerce, as well as the SAARC Women’s Cultural Association.

Asked why she never opened her own flower shop, Joan says, she never meant to make this a business. “I was a very young wife and mother. We had one car, a Peugeot 203, and I would drop my husband at work, drop the children at school, rush to Maradana to buy flowers, pack the hood rack to capacity with flowers, rush back to pick up the kids, do my flower arrangements, complete the household chores, it was just one thing and another which led to today – 45 years in the flower business”, beams Joan. In fact Joan has been dealing with the same supplier of flowers, Gunadasa from Nuwara Eliya for the last 45 years. The business is now run by Gunadasa’s wife, Indrani.

When the first five star hotel opened its doors in Sri Lanka, namely, the Inter Continental, Joan was worked off her feet. Weddings, parties, celebrations, VIP arrivals, Joan handled them all, so much so that, when President Tito arrived in his yacht for the Non Aligned Summit, yes, Joan was called upon to handle the floral arrangements for his yacht.

Former President, J.R. Jayawardene, was another of Joan’s fans and had her attend to all floral requirements during his tenure in office. The Queen’s visit was yet another memorable occasion for Joan who outdid herself on the occasion.

Joan counts weddings among her most favourite assignments as they are happy occasions. “I love doing weddings and they are my favourite”.

Joan has dressed three generations of brides and counts herself fortunate to have done so. As for artificial flowers, Joan is not a fan of them and avoids using them as much as possible.

Joan’s daughter Karen is now fully involved in the business and works alongside her mother, a testament to the fact that flowers do indeed bloom in Joan’s blood.

Any regrets in her long and illustrious career? “None, she replies and I would do it all over again and again. I love what I do and I hope I can continue till I literally drop.” 

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