Birthday flowers

THE QUEEN carried flowers commemorating her 90th Birthday prepared by a florist who originates from Oldham.

Martyn Crossley, 59, who grew up on Hollinwood Avenue in Chadderton, runs Martyn Crossley the Florist in Windsor which has been providing flowers for the Royal Family for the past 25 years.

The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday and carried flowers prepared by Martyn's florist as the first beacon of 1,000 that spread across the country was lit.

Martyn said: "We have been here 25 years so over those years we have been doing the flowers for the Royal Family.

"I suppose because there has been more and more anniversaries over the last few years so we have had more things to do.

"We know what the Queen likes and what she doesn't like, she prefers more delicate flowers.

"I have not formally met her but I have seen her on several occasions.

"We get a lot of tourists in the shop and they love it because there are lots of photographs of the Queen hanging up there.

"We have had orders coming in from around the world that have gone straight to Windsor Castle to congratulate her on her birthday."

"I don't really think about it, it's kind of like heads down and get on with it.

"You have to think carefully sometimes, you need to think ahead and work out what you need to order."

Martyn originally worked in Manchester as a jeweller before working on a cruise ship for nine years and then starting the florist.

He said: "I originally worked in Manchester as a jeweller but I had a feeling to escape and go travelling so I worked on a cruise ship for nine years, that was after I completed my training as a florist.

"I left the ship and after looking for a shop to buy in Windsor and we found the shop and started the florists.