Florist gains top US honour

Their ranks include the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Muhammad Ali and George Clooney, and now a retired Shropshire businessman has been added to the roll of honour.

Howard Franklin, a renowned International floral designer, lecturer and judge, has just received the highest civilian honour that can be granted by the State of Kentucky, and one of America's most prestigious awards

Commissioned into the The Honourable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Mr Franklin, of Dorrington, near Shrewsbury, is one of only a handful of Brits to be afforded the distinction.

The 61-year-old was given the award last month. It recognises extraordinary and outstanding contributions to the nation, state or community of Kentucky, and in special circumstances, to citizens of other countries for exceptional achievements of all kinds to the global community.

Mr Franklin has been acknowledged for his eminent career as a florist, which included being World Champion Florist for Bridal Design, Gold Medallist at Chelsea Flower Show and being the British Judge at two World Championships.

The citation also merits his huge contribution to Shropshire through his charitable work, especially the Worshipful Company of Drapers and his commitment to The Shropshire Society in London, of which he is senior vice president.

Mr Franklin said he was overjoyed to receive the award.

He said: "I am delighted and greatly surprised by this totally unexpected honour which I have accepted not just for myself but much more in the spirit of friendship between the county of Shropshire and the State of Kentucky and the people of the United States of America."

Other well known colonels have included American presidents Lyndon B Johnson and Ronald Reagan, astronaut John Glenn, entertainers Carol Channing, Bob Hope and Fred Astaire and actresses Joan Crawford and Whoopi Goldberg.

British colonels include the Princess Royal.

By Russell Roberts