The daughter of celebrity TV gardener Percy Thrower has retired from the Shropshire centre that bears his name due to her health.

Margaret Thrower who is in her 60s has stepped down from her role as a marketing consultant at Percy Thrower’s Garden Centre in Shrewsbury.

She spent her last day at work yesterday. Miss Thrower was thanked for her hard work and dedication by Garden & Leisure Group managing director Neville Prest and operations director Carol Paris.

Miss Thrower said that although she was sad to be retiring she was pleased that the garden centre was going from strength to strength and was in good hands.

John Moseley, marketing director of the group, said all staff would miss her.

He paid tribute to her as a “wonderful” woman who had contributed a great deal to the business.

He said: “I have worked with and known Margaret for probably 20 years. She is a delightful character and she has brought a great deal of colour and vibrancy to the group in her time with us.

“She is a great flower arranger and has done many flower exhibitions and shows and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with her. She is one of life’s wonderful characters. She will be sadly missed by all the staff.”

Percy Thrower was the first gardener to become a household name when he joined the BBC’s Gardeners Club in 1956 and became the Blue Peter gardener from 1974 until his death.

With his friendly manner, trademark pipe and in-depth knowledge of his subject he immediately became a favourite of the viewers and inspired many to take up gardening.

Percy Thrower’s Garden Centre was started in 1969 when he bought the land from Hilda Murrell, the famous rose grower who was murdered and found in a copse at Hunkington, near Haughmond Hill, in 1984.

After Percy’s death in 1988 his daughters Margaret, Sue and Ann continued to run the business until The Garden & Leisure Group bought it in June 2000. Joining the Garden & Leisure Group enabled the name to live on, as part of a larger group of dedicated garden centres.