A BURNHAM-ON-SEA florist has spoken of the moment she received a phone call asking her to supply a bouquet to Motown icon Diana Ross.
Julia Newman, who has a shop on College Street, said she initially thought the request was a “prank” but then learned from her husband that the iconic singer was headlining at Glastonbury Festival.
Julia was contacted by a Diana Ross’ assistant named Alex, and when she learned the singer was in Somerset for the festival, she rang her back to get the details of the order.
The surprised florist was asked to supply 30 white avalanche roses, 30 white freesias, and 30 other flowers she had in her shop.
Julia said: “It was 20 past 8 on Sunday morning. My shop is closed on Sundays but I had a delivery on Saturday for Monday, so I had flowers in the shop, but I thought it was a prank.
“But a woman called Alex, Diana Ross’ assistant, said she needed a bouquet of flowers and in my head I was trying to figure out the voice, ‘is it someone I know?’ it was unbelievable.
“My husband confirmed she was headlining at Glastonbury, I didn’t know, and she said ‘Julia, phone her [the assistant] back’.”
Julia got the bouquets ready within the hour, as requested, and the flowers were collected by a man who drove to the shop.
She had to send photos of the bouquets to Alex and she said they were “amazing”.
Julia also added: “The flowers were for her dressing room before she goes on stage and I was just praying I had those flowers in the shop.
“I just can’t believe it happened, it’s so surreal and incredible. Even now two days later [Julie spoke to Burnham and Highbridge News on Tuesday, June 28] I can’t believe what’s happened.
“It’s something that doesn’t happen to everyday people, you don’t expect to do things for someone so iconic.
“You do flowers for everyday people that visit the shop and this is totally different and so unreal for my lifestyle.”
Julia has been in Burnham-on-Sea with her shop for three years but she has been in the business for 38.
Diana Ross headlined Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, June 26.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here