Linda Taylor retires from Flowers by Salindra in Heckmondwike. Picture Scott Merrylees Linda Taylor has run Flowers by Salindra on Market Street for nearly five decades, but has decided the time is right to retire, and hand it over to her youngest daughter Laura and employee Laura Robinson.

Linda opened the shop aged 21 with her best friend Sandra Moylan, and the lockdown due to COVID-19 has been the only time it has been closed in all those years.

Even during emotional times, such as deaths of close family members, the shop has managed to stay open and she did not allow herself any maternity leave after the birth of her two daughters. Linda Taylor retires from Flowers by Salindra in Heckmondwike. Linda is pictured with her daughter Laura (left) and Laura Robinson who are taking over thye business. Picture Scott Merrylees ”I was supposed to be finishing on Easter Saturday and of course, we came back to work the Monday after Mother’s Day and I decided we were shutting the shop, the risk wasn’t worth taking,” Linda said.

”So I got home and somebody had sent me a card through the post and I sat and cried.

”I didn’t want to go like that, but the 12 weeks off has shown me that I am happy at home.

”I’m ready for it. We’ve had the shop for 48 years, it’s a long time.

”I shall miss it, but with the two Laura’s taking over, we’ll be there to help.

”It’s not like I’m locking the shop up for the last time and it’ll be an empty building.”

Reflecting on her 47 years in business, Linda said: “I wouldn’t have come to work if I hadn’t enjoyed it.

”I think it’s a rule that everybody should enjoy going to work – it should be a law.

”The only time I don’t like it is driving in snow.”I’m an early riser, it’s been long hours, it’s been hard work.

”It’s gone quickly, but life does, doesn’t it.

”The customers have been lovely. A lot won’t know I’m going I don’t think.”I did tell one or two but I told them it was Easter Saturday so they might be thinking I’ve already gone.”One has been in with a card to say all the best.”I’ve watched Heckmondwike alter tremendously, and the business has had it’s ups and downs, but we’ve always kept going.”At one time, all brides got married at local churches, so you had guaranteed trade, but now they get married all over, silly things like that.”Morrisons opening, but that could have been any other supermarket, and the banks closing, that was the worst thing for Heckmondwike.”Linda and her husband Melvyn are now planning on spending time with their two rescue dogs and travelling in their mobile home.And Linda says she is leaving the business in very capable hands.”For the last few years they’ve done most of the work,” she said.”The other Laura has been with me since work experience, and we’ve just not got rid of her.”She’s a damn good florist and […]