A fashion graduate is fulfilling her dream of setting up a bridal boutique in Walmer – named after her late mother.

Jeska Hammond, 34, who has lived in Lydden, Guston and now Walmer, always wanted to own her own shop – it is a vision she shared with her mother Julia, who died from cancer four years ago.

The Bridal Boutique of Jules, will sell wedding dresses, menswear and accessories. It is being built in Dover Road, Walmer and will open in November.

Jeska said: “The inspiration is losing my mum and realising how short life is and to take this opportunity.

“I have taken a massive risk with money, it is something we both wanted to do.”

Jeska described her mum as a two-in-one parent who ensured she had a good upbringing.

She reflected on happy moments in her childhood –like when she was surprised on Christmas day in 1989 with present of a horse.

She said: “My mum had saved a pound a week to buy Fylie for me and we grew up together. Fylie sadly died in the May, the same year that mum died and we were devastated. It really has been a roller coaster.”

Jeska’s adult life has seen her jetting off to different resorts around the world while working as a air stewardess with airline Virgin Atlantic.

But realising her real dream, she went to university and graduated with a degree in fashion. Putting it to good use, she then tried to launch her own clothing range in Scotland, where she moved to be with her husband at the time and had her son, Fred.

Life in the north was interrupted by Julia’s diagnosis of skin cancer although at the time it wasn’t believed to be life threatening.

She died on August 23, 2010 – the day her grandson Fred celebrated his first birthday.

This sad time led to a break-up in Jeska’s marriage and a permanent move back to Lydden where mother and son could begin a new life.

Jeska said: “My grandad, who my son Fred is named after, is now very poorly and in a home.

“It is all very sad and upsetting, but going through what I have has really made me appreciate life and reassess what it is all about.

“I feel, despite the past few years, very lucky to have met my new partner Mark and be in a position to fulfil my dream.

“Mark is absolutely amazing and I simply couldn’t be doing any of this without his hard work and commitment to both Fred and I.”