Family-run florist celebrates 40 years

Jean Molloy, Catherine Thomas, Natalie Drury, and Bea Prosser are the team behind John R Thomas Florist
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A family-run florist is celebrating 40 years of trade this week - as well as being nominated for a national award.
John R Thomas Florist in Church Stretton was set up in 1985, and remains a central part of the Shropshire town's community.
The founder, John, died 11 years ago, but his wife, Catherine Thomas, and stepdaughter, Bea Prosser, have said they are "proud" to continue on with the family business.
"People absolutely adored my husband and we remember him very, very fondly", Mrs Thomas said.
As well as celebrating its 40th anniversary, the shop has been nominated for Retail Florist of the Year by the British Florist Association (BFA).
"We're very excited," Mrs Thomas said, adding that "it's never happened before".
"It would be a great honour to win and people in Church Stretton have been wishing us loads of luck," she said.
Mrs Thomas added the shop has built up multiple generations of loyal customers over the years by providing flowers for all occasions, from births to funerals.

John Thomas, pictured here with his wife Catherine, died in 2014

Catherine Thomas said everyone was "very excited" about the award nomination
John and Catherine Thomas even met through the shop, with Mrs Prosser adding her mum "used to come in for flowers every weekend because she liked him."
John had muscular dystrophy, which saw Catherine helping out more and more with the running of the shop.
"[When] he passed away she just got thrown in the deep end, and as any good woman does, cracked on," Mrs Prosser said.
Reflecting on what it's like working at the family business, Mrs Prosser said she "loves" her job.
"I love every single person I work with, and they're not all family but we all get on so well."

The shop has built up lots of loyal customers across its 40 years in the Shropshire town
The business prides itself on its welcoming, family atmosphere and loyal staff.
Natalie Drury, 25, has been working there for ten years - starting when she was still in school.
She said the shop is "something special" and that she "feels proud to go to work."
"It's not a big [chain] shop - there's only one John R Thomas."

Natalie Drury, 25, has been working at the shop since she was a teenager

Jean Molloy said she is looking forward to celebrating with their customers
Whilst the team keeps their fingers crossed for the award - they are also holding a party to mark 40 years.
Jean Molloy, Mrs Thomas's sister, reckons "it's going to be great fun".
"We'll have all our regulars here, it'll be lovely to see everybody, give them all a glass of fizz, some cake and we'll have a lovely day," she said.
Winning the BFA's Retail Florist of the Year would be "the icing on the cake for all of Catherine's hard work," Mrs Molloy added.
"John will be very proud."

Mrs Prosser said her stepfather would have loved to celebrate the shop's anniversary
Marking the four decades without John, the shop's founder, is hard - but Mrs Prosser believes her stepdad would be proud of what they've all achieved.
"We'd love him to be here," she said, adding that "more than anything he loved a party - that's what he'd be gutted about the most".
"I know for a fact, he'd be absolutely gobsmacked."
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