‘The shop was Olive’s life’:

Florist selling up after death of wife.

A Carnoustie florist is selling up and retiring just three months after the death of his beloved wife.

Stewart Duncan said he has made the decision with a “heavy heart” after first opening a flower shop with Olive in 1979.

Mrs Duncan was known locally as Olive the Flower Lady and her husband said it has not been the same at the shop since she lost her battle with illness in November.

The couple supported thousands of people in the Carnoustie community over the last 38 years through joyous occasions and sad ones and yesterday was Mr Duncan’s last in the shop.

Mr Duncan said: “The shop was Olive’s life – it was her hobby as well as her job.

“It feels like I’m virtually giving away everything but it just wasn’t the same without her. We used to know what the other person was going to do and we didn’t have to speak.

“It was fun and I look back on the time STEWART DUNCAN we spent together in the shop with great fondness. But it’s now time for me to retire, although it’s not the retirement we’d planned for.”

The couple opened a small shop on Dundee Street in 1979 where they sold flowers and, initially, fruit and vegetables.

Later they moved to 48 High Street and then across the road to the current premises at 84 High Street around 12 years ago.

Mr Duncan plans to visit his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in Australia next month. On his return he wants to lower his handicap on the golf course and is looking to buy a horse.

Having been a showjumper in his youth, Mr Duncan said he was looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

The shop will reopen for business on Saturday under the new ownership of Lynda Wallace and Jacqui Gray.

“May I wish Lynda and Jacqui many happy and fruitful years in the flower trade as was enjoyed by Olive and myself,” he said.

Mr Duncan’s wife was named Carnoustie’s Citizen of the Year in 2016 for her “outstanding contribution to life” in the town.

The couple married in 1974 and have four children – Sarah-Jane, Stewart, Steven and Garry – and six grandchildren.

Itwasfun and I look back on the time we spent together in the shop withgreat fondness. But it’s now timeforme to retire.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Stewart Duncan retired from his florists yesterday.