25 years in bloom for florist Beverley Richardson

Beverley Richardson with her daughter Silkyh at her business The Flower Studio kiosk at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre

Rochdale florist Beverley Richardson is marking 25 years in bloom with an extra special Mother’s Day.

Beverley, who lives in Wardle, had been working all out to save up for an unforgettable cruise holiday as way of treating herself for her 50th birthday – on May 14 - another special date in her 2014 calendar, but she quickly dropped that plan when her daughter, Silkyh, 25, became seriously ill.

“My daughter’s been so poorly,” Beverley said. “We nearly lost her when she died on the operating table but she miraculously came back to us. She survived and there really is no better gift than that. There is nothing else I could possibly have wanted for my birthday, Mother’s Day or any other day than to still have Silkyh here with us.”

Beverley is now planning to work on her birthday on 14 May.

“Realistically it‘s hard for me to shut up shop as it‘s my livelihood. People expect that I‘ll be here and my birthday’s on a Wednesday so it’s a working day anyway. I’ve a few friends in one of the other shops so no doubt I’ll see them,” she said.

She has been at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre for 19 years, having helped her late husband, William, with his market stalls floristry business before that. “He got me involved with flowers, first of all selling them at markets. We went everywhere, Tyldesley, Royton, Scotland, all over the place. Then we bought the kiosk here and I took it on. That’s when I decided I needed to know more than just how to sell flowers, so I went to Oldham College and learned about professional floristry. Since then I’ve also picked up some great ideas from one of the girls who we once had helping us and I’ve further developed my skills as I’ve gone along.”

This year she is marking her quarter of a century of being in the flower trade.

Lorenzo O’Reilly, Rochdale Exchange Manager, said: “On behalf of the Rochdale Exchange team, I would like to send my warmest congratulations to Beverley on reaching her 25th year in the flower trade.

“She has been a very valued tenant of the shopping centre for many years now and I know she has a lot of loyal customers who return again and again for her lovely floristry.

“It seems Mother’s Day will be very important to her, both in work and personal terms, and it is great to hear that Silkyh has recovered and will be there to mark Mother’s Day with Beverley.”

Over the last two decades Beverley has built her business up and in 2009 she won Rochdale Exchange shopping centre’s annual award for best service provider and runner’s up prize for best shop in the area.

“I’ve had a lot of help from my family, including my late nan who would still help me out even when she got to 88.”

Beverley’s parents, June and Tony Eves live in Rochdale and she also has a son, Blake, 21, who works in an insurance company call centre.

In her spare time she keeps fit by playing rounders with Rochdale Ladies. “I love it, we’re in the league and it’s great fun. We play throughout spring and summer from April till August. I’m looking forward to the new season already,” she laughed.