A market trader who has had a stall under the arches of the Shire Hall for 40 years has been recognised for her long service.

Known as the ‘Flower lady’, Gwen Rogers started selling from her stall in 1982, the year the Falklands Islands were invaded. Fellow market traders had already made a presentation to her the week before, but Councillor Terry Christopher, in his capacity as mayor of Monmouth, handed her a letter last Friday thanking her for the many years she has traded from her pitch ‘under the arches’.

When she first began selling, there were a lot more stalls than now, including the WI stall that was a popular draw to the Saturday market.

“I started selling mainly the flowers but now the WI stall has given up, I’ve branched out into eggs as well” she told the Beacon.

She remembers William Hague once visiting her stall when he was canvassing in town “and our picture appeared in the Sunday Times and the Independent” she recalled.

Her motto in life is “a flower grows in dirt” recalling the hard times she has had in her life.