Proceeds from the sale of a rose at an Eden nursery will form part of a £10,000 fundraising drive in memory of a much-loved colleague who died at work.
Angela McLean, of Calthwaite, who was the office manager at Larch Cottage Nurseries, Melkinthorpe, died suddenly while working at her desk on November 30 last year, aged 55.
Jo Stott, who owns the business with her husband Peter, said: “One moment she was fine and the next moment she wasn’t. It was so sudden.
“She was everybody’s friend and very professional.”
Although Angela had only worked at the nursery for just under a year, “it felt like forever because of the person that she was,” said Jo.
Previously, Angela had worked at the Crown at Wetheral for 17 years, but her family said she had never been happier than when she was working at Larch Cottage.
The Angela McLean Memorial Fund, which will raise money for staff based at Penrith, Keswick and Brough ambulance stations to pay for additional training, was launched on February 29, which would have been Angela’s 56th birthday.
“We just wanted to give something back to the ambulance service, because they were fantastic,” said Jo.
After phoning 999, an ambulance was on site in within 10 minutes and paramedics worked on Angela, who had suffered a blood clot, for two-and-a-half hours.
In total, two road ambulances attended, the air ambulance, an ambulance car and fire engine as part of the emergency response.
Praise was also given for the way the rest of the staff were looked after, who were all in shock.
The nursery is selling the rose, called Angela and at least £10 from each rose sold will go towards the fund.
The rose is available to buy at Larch Cottage Nurseries in person or via the website at https://larchcottage.co.uk/
All money raised from the nursery’s open garden days this year will also go towards the fund and more events are planned.
Donations are also being accepted – visit www.justgiving.com/page/angelamcleanfund
