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Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian Phyllis Self dies

Published: 2 October 2013
Phyllis Self, a former director of Wiltshire's Whitehall Garden Centre, has died at the age of 105.
Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian Phyllis Self dies
Dubbed "the oldest boss in Britain", Mrs Self worked at the family-run business for over 40 years, retiring only two years ago.

Phyllis Self was awarded an MBE for services to the community by the Queen in 2008 - shortly after celebrating her 100th birthday. She also achieved fame in newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Mirror as a result of the length of her working life.

In 2008 she appeared on BBC's The One Show in a programme dedicated to Britain's oldest professionals, with the camera crew catching her on a typical day working in the garden centre. At the time she was still driving the short distance to work.

A year later she took second prize in the Lifetime Achievement Awards organised by Wiltshire Life Magazine.

"I've never thought about stopping, retiring or anything like that," she said at the time. "I like people too much. When people ask how I've got to 101, I say 'the secret is just being busy all the time, meeting people and dealing with people'. That's what I love about the garden centre. It keeps me young."

Mrs Self moved to Wiltshire from Cheshire in the 1930s. She married Rowland Self and together they opened Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock in 1972. A second store in Whitchurch, near Bristol was later added.

Mrs Self's funeral will be held at St Cyriac's Church, Lacock on Wednesday, October 9, at 2pm.

Comments

Published prior to March 2014
By Mrs.Valerie Ashworth
My aunt was one of a kind, there,ll never be a lady quite like her again, always there for other people, supported many including her large growing family, supportive of her late husband Rowland Self, a fabulous lady, loved by all, she will leave a huge hole in everyones hearts. R.I.P Auntie Phyllis, we will all miss you so much.

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