FOUR Seasons Florists at Bude took part in this year’s ‘Lonely Bouquet day’ and were delighted to hear that the flowers made not one, but two people’s day after they were discovered.

The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) came up with the Lonely Bouquet campaign that encourages florists all over the country to abandon a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a tag on saying ‘please take me home and enjoy the flowers’, they are then left for an unsuspecting passer by to pick them up and hopefully bring some joy to their day.

Four Seasons took part in the campaign this year, and on Friday, May 6, owner Sarah Penny left her lonely bouquet somewhere in Bude and posted on the Four Seasons’ Facebook page: ‘If you are the lucky one who finds ours or you know someone who is going through a tough time, please pass it on and brighten up their day.’

Much to her delight, the lucky finder replied to the Facebook post. Conrad O’Leary said: ‘Thank you so much Four Seasons. I found this at 2pm on Friday, May 6, on a bench on the Downs. I took to my mother in South Wales — this is her fourth time in hospital this year.

‘She was delighted with them and told the story of the flowers to everyone in the ward. Thanks — great idea.’

Sarah replied to Mr O’Leary: ‘I can honestly say this brought tears to my eyes, this is why we do what we do, and exactly where I hoped this bouquet would end up, someone who needed it more than most. We wish your mum well and please if you are ever back in Bude, come and see us. I love my job and love where we live, thank you for sharing your story.’

Mr O’Leary later went into the Four Seasons florists with a bottle of wine as a thank you as well as explaining that the bouquet didn’t only end up making his mother’s day but also his aunt’s.

He told Sarah that his mother wasn’t allowed to keep flowers in the hospital ward she was staying in, so he took them to his aunt, who also lives in Wales, to keep at her house and she was delighted.

He said there was a ‘double happy ending’ from Four Seasons’ kind gesture.

Sarah has now sold the business to one of her colleagues, Sophie Pillman, so that she can concentrate on her son Talan who is currently battling cancer.

Sophie, who will open up her new look Four Seasons this Saturday, told the Post: “NAFAS Lonely Bouquet campaign is great, and definitely something I am going to be carrying on.”