A woman from Sholden has followed her heart and started a new business, offering vintage crockery for hire.

Sylvia Sims, of The Street, launched The Vintage Elegance Company two weeks ago.

She offers beautiful and carefully selected pieces suitable for most occasions such as weddings, christenings, birthdays, baby showers, wakes and parties.

Her mismatched vintage crockery collection includes teacups and saucers, tea plates, sugar bowls, milk jugs, teapots and cake stands, by the likes of Alfred Meakin and Colclough.

Also, as part of the service, she has homemade colourful bunting, linen tablecloths with hessian runners and vintage props. Her latest accessory purchases are a bird cage, 1950s typewriter, 1920s camera and a red post box for cards.

She also had a suitcase full with masks, hats, and of course, moustaches. The arts and crafts fan plans to continue adding to the collection of props, and will even make her own masks at home.

Mrs Sims has adored fine china since she was about 10, when a neighbour, Lilian Thibaut, would lay out her fine bone china in her home.

Mrs Thibaut knew Sylvia loved it and so for every birthday she would buy her a piece to add to her collection.

When Mrs Sims’ nephew married last year, they held a vintage-themed wedding reception. She fell in love with all the crockery – and ended up buying it off of them. She said: “That’s the base of it and now I’m adding to it.”

Mrs Sims, who works full-time as a group sales officer at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, added: “With my knowledge and expertise with event managing, I thought I could offer bespoke packages. We tailor it to what people want. At the moment we can cater for 150 but it’s increasing all the time.

“Working in the theatre business, it has given me a flair for sourcing fabulous items.”

Her husband Martin, who runs Goddens darts and trophy shop in Herne, is supportive. “He helps me source the goods, often from charity shops,” said Mrs Sims.

The fine china lover has already been booked to provide her services for a wedding in 2016.

Mrs Sims’ granddaughter, Gracie Bella Sims, died last May having suffered with the life-limiting disease mucolipidosis type II. She said: “We had an emotional roller coaster of a year, losing our precious granddaughter Gracie Bella.

“But then our granddaughter Nancy Gracie was born in November. I felt I needed to so something that I’d always wanted to do.”

Mrs Sims is happy to travel throughout south east Kent with the crockery.

For more information visit www.thevintageelegance.co.uk or call 07816 384971.

Anyone with vintage crockery they no longer use and are willing to give it a new home, should call Mrs Sims on the number above.