Falmouth Packet 9th May 2007

Florist branches out with business

Debbie, who grew up and went to school in Helston, started working at Wards on leaving school, at a time when the florists ran its own nursery at Carleen.

After a brief break, she returned to the business 20 years ago, training as a florist and becoming head florist at the shop three years later.

She first met her husband, Stephen, 18 years ago when he was driving a delivery van for Wards.

Stephen, who is also Helston-born and whose grandparents, Gladys and Bill Willingale, used to run the newsagents in Church Street, now works as a monumental mason based in Porthleven - a profession that ties in neatly with Debbie's new venture.

Having trained as a letter cutter with R Pascoe and Sons monumental masons at Coverack Bridges.