Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland and wife Diana alongside an example of Diana’s Delight, the new clematis on show at the Chelsea Flower Show. (Picture by Bruce Parker, 0774335)

A NEW clematis named after Diana Rowland, the wife of Bailiff Geoffrey, is the centrepiece of one of the Chelsea Flower Show’s most prestigious exhibits in London this week.

Diana’s Delight forms part of the Guernsey Clematis Nursery’s display in the Great Floral Pavilion.

The new flower has an unusual blue colouring with a creamy yellow centre. It is one of 37 clematis bred and cultivated by Raymond Evison, which form the Chelsea exhibit.

Visiting the Guernsey stand ahead of today’s opening of the five-day show, Mrs Rowland said she was ‘as pleased as anybody could be to have a flower dedicated to her and on show at this world-famous event’.

The Bailiff himself said he was ‘doing a Denis Thatcher’.

‘I’m walking three steps behind Diana as her consort, but we’re both very proud to be associated with Raymond’s wonderful display, which is a great credit to the island.’