WITH the excited shrieks of paddling children in the background, a modest monument celebrating the generosity of one the Island’s greatest benefactors was unveiled yesterday
Florence Houston, the great-great-granddaughter of Jesse and Florence Boot, unveiled a plaque commemorating her gift of Coronation Park.
‘She was a very generous woman and she liked helping people,’ said 15-year-old Florence.
‘She liked people to enjoy the things she gave them.’ Her mother and Florence Boot’s great-granddaughter, Emma, added: ‘She would love it if she was here today to see these children playing.’ The small family get-together spanned three generations of the family which founded the Boots pharmacy chain.
All had played and paddled in the park as children and had stories to tell of their famous relative.
Florence’s granddaughter, the Hon Elizabeth Parish, recalled a time she was in trouble while staying at the family home in the south of France.
‘I did not run back to my mother, but to my grandmother’s arms.
She was a lovely lady.
She was very comforting.
She loved children - the house was always full of them.’
Article posted on 31st July, 2004 - 12.00am
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