New Mills’ woman helps Chelsea Flower Show bloom

Gemma Price, formerly of New Mills, who is organsing this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Photo contributed.

Gemma Price, a former New Mills School pupil, is running the Chelsea Flower Show on May 20 to 24, after being appointed as operations manager last September.

Dad Stephen Price, of Hayfield Road, Birch Vale, said he was “very proud” of his daughter, adding: “One of her earliest school day memories was that she would one day become an exhibition organiser.”

After moving from New Mills and gaining a degree in Newcastle, Gemma left the north for London where, since 2001, she gained experience organising and operating a variety of large industrial exhibitions in London, Birmingham and the south of France. Further experience in Dubai, Frankfurt and Brighton helped her to gain a top post with the Royal Horticultural Society, where she has been responsible for the flower show at Tatton Park.

Stephen said: “Visits from members of the royal family and many thousands of garden lovers will make Gemma’s first year quite a challenge!

“An added spice is that she will feature in the BBC’s behind the scenes coverage, which will look at how a show of this magnitude comes to fruition.”