VIDEO: Fairley's Garden Centre staff member gets birthday surprise

Lauren Alvarado, who has worked at the garden centre for nine years, celebrated her birthday on Monday, April 8.

However, her colleagues had a very special surprise for her when she returned to work today (Wednesday, April 10).

Phylip de la Maziere, official town crier and consort of the royal and ancient burgh of Lanark, went along to the garden centre to give Lauren a birthday proclamation.

The birthday proclamation was read out to Lauren and visitors in the garden centre restaurant, and she was given a copy of the proclamation and flowers.

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Phylip wrote the poem himself and it goes:

“Oyez, oyez, oyez.

Good people we are here, for a very special day.

For on Monday just gone, twas Lauren’s birthday.

Belated birthday greetings, I will ask you to send.

Once this proclamation, has come to an end.

To tell her birthday age, would ner be the thing to do.

But next year I believe, that it will be thirty two.

My consort and I, your birthday greetings we do bring.

We ask that all the people that they will gladly sing.

Upon the count of three, let happy birthday ring.

That when the singing over, and you leave this special place.

Tiz with memories you’ll share and a smile upon your face.

One final thing to do, before our work is done.

Please accept these flowers, on behalf of everyone.”

Lauren after her surprise with her grandfather, George McDonald, owner of Fairley's Garden Centre. (Image: Alexandra Baff)

Phylip commented: “So I’ve been a town crier for 34 years now. My mum was Scottish, my dad was French, I was actually born in Ayr but grew up in Liverpool.

“Being the town crier is a lot of fun, there’s only three official town criers in Scotland. There’s myself in Lanark, Linlithgow, and I believe Queensferry South. At one time we were all over the place, including lady town criers.”