Thank you Tricia!

Thank you, Tricia!

We wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to the lovely Tricia who leaves us this month after 19 years at The Hollies!

Tricia started at The Hollies in 2000 when her granddaughter Phoebe was born (she wanted to make sure she wasn’t staying at home to look after the baby!) Tricia remembers arriving for her interview with Phil in October 2000 in her best shiny blue mackintosh and matching old blue Mini. She says, “it was only in later years Philip told me he took me on in sympathy as he thought I looked like a large Barbara Windsor!”

In those days, Tricia remembers the shop being less than a third of the size of today’s shop and the greenhouse was in the car park. There was a turning circle around a tree in the car park and she recalls delivery drivers and customers having great difficulty with maneuvering around it!

Tricia initially worked in our Little Budworth Farm Shop, then helped at Lower Stretton for a few years when that opened in 2007, returning to Little Budworth a few years later where she has worked ever since. Alongside working in the Farm Shop, Tricia now enjoys helping to create the beautiful flower bouquets with Phil. The ‘flower room’ has moved locations many times and used to be in the old barn. Tricia takes us back to when The Hollies welcomed caravan rallies and the Cowap family would put on entertainment for the guests such as talent contents and quiz nights. She remembers that often the Caravanners would come into the old barn to practice their routines for the talent contests – some of them having her, Phil and Ed in stitches laughing (mainly for being terrible!!)

Fast forward to present day, and The Hollies employs 3 generations of Tricia’s family. Husband Mick has worked outside at The Hollies for many years keeping the grounds and gardens tidy. Daughter Sarah joined us last year to take up a Front of House role at our newest venture, 32 by The Hollies on Tarporley High Street. Granddaughter Phoebe works with our team in our Lower Stretton Farm Shop!

Tricia says, “how times have changed and though I sign in now on a machine, I cannot imagine how many people have passed through those doors. I should think if they saw me, they would say ‘what’s she still doing here at her age?’. My reply would be ‘it’s good entertainment value and every day is different! I shall miss it greatly, but not how cold the shop is in the Winter!”

Tricia, you will be greatly missed by the Cowap family and the whole team here at The Hollies. Thank you for all your hard work, laughs, beautiful flower arrangements, friendship, advice and support over the years – now go and put your feet up!