Bohemia Village Voice

Sharon Lingwood outside The Flower Shop in Bohemia Road

Sharon Lingwood, 35, had been in ‘the flower game’ in London for 15 years, and decided that it was time for a change. In March this year she, partner Kevin, 25, daughters Megan, 11, Madison, 2, and baby son Ashton, six months, moved down from Clapham to St Leonards. “I now work at the Flower Shop in Bohemia Road and I love it here.” says Sharon. “I was born in Clapham and have lived all my life in London. My partner Kevin still works in London, and has to commute daily. But the money’s treble what you get here”.
“Things are really bad in London. My 11-year old daughter Megan was ‘jumped’ on her first day at school. They were trying to steal her purse. It’s a different way of life down here, so laid back. Megan can go down to the town on her own. In London I couldn’t let her out of my sight. The kids down here are so much more friendly. Megan loves it here – she can walk to school. In London, I always drove her to school, even though it was only two minutes away. In Clapham, she was always having days off school, down here she actually gets up early for school.”
“I was even frightened of going to Sainsbury’s. I was jumped by a kid outside my own front door. You have to show you’re not scared. Everything is gang-related in London. Where my mum lives, there’s already been thirteen killings since the beginning of the year. I’m trying to get her to move down here too. She lives in Vauxhall near the new flower market.”
“We live in Augustus Way, just off the Battle Road. You get double the house down here that you get in London. We had a two bedroom house in Clapham. Here, we’ve got four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage.”
“I love it here – it’s a breath of fresh air.”