FLOWER seller Hughie Bothwell, who endeared himself to the community with his friendly humour and colourful personality, died in a nursing home early on Liberation Day, aged 78.
One of Jersey’s characters, Mr Bothwell, who came to live in the Island in the late 1950s, became well-known for the flower stall he ran, firstly near the obelisk in Broad Street, and then for around 20 years in Brook Street near Hamons.He also started one of the first flowers-by-post services in the Island.
It was his gentle and jovial temperament that won the public over and led to him being known by many people as ‘the flower man.’
He usually wore colourful costumes and hats when selling flowers as if he was giving a performance, and in particular a beret with badges on, similar to the comedian Benny Hill, of whom he could do a good impersonation. He saw himself as an entertainer rather than a trader and was among the first to sell flowers in pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, always wishing patrons ‘happy days’ whether they bought them from him or not.
Born in Belfast on 1 January 1931, Mr Bothwell lived with his aunt and uncle until the outbreak of the Second World War, when he was evacuated to the UK. Following a brief education, he joined the army and saw action in Malaya. After leaving the service, Mr Bothwell joined the Merchant Navy, working as a cook on board costal civil patrol boats before travelling further afield.
He spent a very happy period of his life in Australia as a ranch hand, learning to become a proficient horseman. Mr Bothwell returned to England to work with his father, who had set up a fish fryer business in Poole, with his sister Ruth and her husband David before they emigrated to Canada.
While in Poole, he discovered his faith and started on the road to being a devout Christian.
It was that faith which eventually brought him to Jersey in the late 1950s – for mission work with the newly formed Pentecostal church.
At the church, he met Pearl, the woman who became his wife, and they were married at the ‘Halkett Place Evangelical Church’ in April 1958. Their first son Peter was born in 1960, their second son David in 1962 and daughter Ruth in 1964.
A devoted family man, he always worked hard to support them and was devastated when Pearl died in October 1995.
Always believing in the rights of the individual, he championed many a cause and was a long-standing fund-raiser for the Royal British Legion and other charities. He was also a supporter and member of the TGWU and would always take part in any rally which was campaigning for workers’ rights.
Following his wife’s death, Mr Bothwell lived alone with the support of his youngest son David and his wife Cass, who helped him to run his flower business for around 12 years after he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1984.
By 2002, his health had deteriorated, and when his son David became ill, he could no longer care for himself and moved to St Helier House, where he remained for almost four years and was popular with the staff and other residents. He died in his sleep early on Liberation Day at L’Hermitage nursing home where he had recently moved to after being in hospital.
The Jersey Evening Post extends sympathy to his family and friends.
