THE ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ owner of a Malvern florist who could not remember the names of her husband and three children and how to read and write after suffering from a brain haemorrhage has said doing her dream job has helped her make a seven-year recovery.
Lucy Jones, who runs Shrinking Violet Bespoke Floristry at Great Malvern Railway Station, saw her life at severe risk a decade ago when she suffered the life-threatening condition, as well as two brain aneurysms, which left her unable to remember to do simple everyday tasks and the people she loved.
The 60-year-old former office manager at Malvern Town Council was also left partially-sighted and unable to read and write.
Amazingly, the only thing Mrs Jones could remember was her love of working with flowers and wanting to run her own florist.
Determined to achieve her life-long ambition after her catastrophic memory loss, she endured a seven-year uphill struggle to re-learn how to read and write and with the tireless support of her friends and family, Mrs Jones defied all the odds to open her business in March 2013.
She also completed a City and Guilds Level 3 Award course in Creative Techniques at Pershore Horticultural College before achieving a Level 3 for Specialist Wedding Design and Bespoke Tributes prior to opening her business.
Speaking to the Observer about her life-changing ordeal, Mrs Jones said: “Having the shop got my life back on track but I had to overcome seven years of hurdles to do so.
“I had to re-learn everything and the brain is an amazing thing, everything comes back to you if you work hard enough.
“All my friends and family have been so supportive and I could not have done this without them as I always wanted to be a florist from such a young age.”
Her first public floral display of a vintage pram outside Lady Foley’s Tea Room was loved so much by visitors at the station, it spurred Mrs Jones on to open her florist and make her dream become reality.
Lucy said the best parts of her job were talking to her customers every day about flowers and making them happy.
She added: “I really enjoy working with flowers. I get so much pleasure out of ordering my stock and it’s what I enjoy the most about having the shop.
“I love spending times on flowers as it brings so much pleasure to other people.”
Despite making a dramatic recovery, she is no longer able to drive due to her impaired vision and needs constant reminders from her husband to do everyday activities such as eating and drinking.
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin was left inspired after hearing the brave businesswoman’s story during a recent meeting with her.
“Lucy clearly has enormous skill and artistic talent and her only memory as she recovered from her illness was that she wanted to run her own florist shop,” she said.
“She has not allowed her illness to define her and it is so inspiring to see the way she has been able to fulfill her ambition to be her own boss.
“I am happy to help to support her in this venture.”
