MUM’S BEST IN THE WORLD
Our Say It With Flowers winner
Everyone thinks their mum is special, but noone more so than doting Rutherglen daughter Claire Gallagher.
Mum-of-two Claire is so full of love and admiration for her mum, Helen, that she sent a heartfelt message to the Reformer to nominate her in our Say it with Flowers competition.
Gran-of-three Helen celebrated her 70th birthday last month with a party at the Normandy Hotel.
Although she was surrounded by family and friends, the absence of the husband she lost 12 years ago was sorely felt.
In telling us why Helen should receive a beautiful, luxury bouquet from florist Stems of Burnside, Claire told us that Helen never got over the loss of her dad, who passed away aged only 54.
Beauty threapy student Claire told us: “I would like to nominate my mum who is always there for me and my kids and always helps out and never asks for anything in return.
“We lost my dad, her soul -mate, 12 years ago and she has never got over it. He is a big, big loss. With me not being too flush with cash, I buy my mum flowers for a treat and, even though I know she appreciates it, she will always say: ‘You could have got a couple of dinners with that, don’t worry about me.’
“But she loves cards and flowers and this would mean a lot to show what an amazing, influential person she is in my life and the lives of her grandchildren.
“She always thinks of everyone else apart from herself, and I think she would be over the moon with this.
“I couldn’t thank you more if you surprised Mum with flowers.”
Helen, who emigrated to South Africa in 1974 and returned to Rutherglen in 1993, is always there for her grandchildren, 16-year-old Conner and Toni-Marie McGurk, seven.
She is also in regular touch with sons John and Mark in Johannesburg and her little granddaughter, Meaghan, two, whom she visited at the end of last year.
Helen, who grew up in Castlemilk, was lost for words when we arrived at her Watson Avenue home to deliver a Stems of Burnside Say it with Flowers bouquet, which is awarded every week to someone who goes that extra mile to make a difference to the lives of those around them.
“What a lovely surprise,” said Helen. “The flowers are absolutely beautiful – and they’re lilac, too – my favourite colour.”
Claire, who had attended the funeral of a pal’s mum just the day before, gave Helen a big hug and told her: “I’m so lucky that I still have you. You are amazing.”