The Amazing Lady P

Founded in London in the mid-1950s, Pulbrook & Gould quickly became established as a leader in its field - providing a bespoke service for a clientele in the top echelons of society, including members of the Royal Family. They provided the perfect flower decorations for all significant events, from weddings to funerals and from balls to private parties. Lady Pulbrook and her partner, Rosamund Gould, were both keen gardeners and were quick to exploit their many contacts who could supply them with unique ingredient –flowers picked from gardens of English private growers, including many from grand country estates, which supplemented those available at Covent Garden Flower Market.
Sonja Waities, Lady Pulbrook’s sister-in-law, was also a partner in the business for 40 years. In the Amazing Lady P, she provides the reader with a unique insight into what it was like to run a flower decoration business in the latter part of the 20th century, when individual style really counted for something, and before so much of the planning and organization for big events was turned over to party planners.
Such was P &G’s success that, thanks to their determination to train young florists properly, several of their alumni have gone on to become famous names in the business. A few of them, including Shane Connolly and Simon Lycett, recall how P &G helped them in their later careers.

Sonja Waites, sister-in-law to Susan, Lady Pulbrook, was born in Australia and moved to the UK when she married Gerry, Susan’s brother. She helped with Lady Pulbrook’s business on many occasions in its early years, before becoming her partner when Rosamund Gould retired from it to marry in 1974. This book, in which she describes the earlier years of the business, has been written by her to share a unique period and experience with a wider circle of people.