It’s all smiles at the dentist for Margaret

Practice manager retires next week

A familiar face at a busy Coatbridge dental practice is this week’s recipient of our Say It With Flowers bouquet – ahead of her retirement after more than four decades of service.

Much- loved pra c t i c e manager Margaret Gray was nominated by her colleagues at Laird Street dental care in the town, where she has worked since 1972.

The long-serving employee will retire next week after a lengthy career, originally as a dental nurse and then becoming an oral health educator before moving on to her current role.

She was surprised with a beautiful arrangement of flowers, kindly provided by Mr Michael’s Florist on nearby Main Street, when Advertiser photographer Tom Dick visited the dental practice this week.

Associate dentist Joanne Lagan, who nominated Margaret on behalf of the practice team, said: “Margaret is so unbelievably loved by staff and patients and will be a huge miss, and we think she deserves a fantastic send-off.

“She’s been at the practice for such a long time and everybody knows her; she knows all the patients and always knows who it is on the phone before people have even said their names!”

Coatbridge resident Margaret previously worked alongside dentist Jim Watt until his retirement in 2008, and then for the past decade with current dentist John Cadden.

Joanne added: “Margaret will be sorely missed by patients and colleagues – she’s a bit of a mum to everybody and keeps everyone right. We don’t know what we’ll do without her!”

This week’s flowers were kindly provided by Mr Michael’s Florist in Coatbridge; and owner Michael Quinn said: “We’re really pleased to be part of Say It With Flowers to put a smile on people’s faces.

“We’d also like to wish all Advertiser readers a merry Christmas.”

You can nominate a loved one for our weekly flowers – provided by Elite Flowers in Airdrie and Mr Michael’s – by sending in their story of why they deserve the special surprise.

One lucky recipient will be featured each week with the bouquet presentation being captured on camera.

To put forward your special someone, send in your name, daytime phone number, address, the name of the person you wish to nominate and information about why you think they deserve to receive the bouquet of the week.

Details can be emailed to news@ airdrieandcoatbridgeadvertiser. co.uk or posted to Say It With Flowers competition, Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA.

Margaret is pictured receiving her flowers from Laird Street dentist John Cadden, left, and dental team colleagues.

Thank you Margaret receives her flowers as colleagues look on