Fifty years of saying it with flowers came to an end for a Denton family business as Gertie Shawcroft retired from Parkin's the florists on Ashton Road, which her mother started in 1916.
At the time it was the only shop in Denton selling exclusively plants and cut flowers.
Mrs Shawcroft, 57, had worked there for 43 years from when she left school. She and her husband John were retiring to Sale to be near their daughter and son-in-law.
Her one regret was that the shutters would be coming down for good as there was no-one to take over.
“I would have liked it to continue and so would the customers. They are very sorry I am going,” she told the Reporter.
Over the years Mrs Shawcroft had worked hard to build up a successful business, which involved setting off for Manchester’s Smithfield Market every morning at 4.45am to get her fresh blooms.
Handling about 1,000 flowers a week had become a way of life, but Mrs Shawcroft would not be giving them up completely.
She would have a large garden to look after when she moved house.
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