A florist who stumbled upon her passion as a teenager is celebrating 25 years of business in a village rich in family history.

Julia Archer, from Sweet William in Headcorn, runs a store just yards away from where her great-grandfather once owned a bakery.

The mum-of-three, who lives in Pluckley, opened her first shop along the high street in 1999. It is now a Post Office branch.

“I was backpacking up the east coast of Australia when I had a phone call from my dad,” she said.

“The village shop at the time was up for sale and he asked whether I wanted it.

“I shot straight back home on February 5 and we opened on March 1.”

Starting in the industry at just 22 years old, Julia says she never forgets her first day on the job.

She said: “I got my first delivery of flowers and had no idea what to order.

“The vicar Barry Langman was my very first customer. He came in and bought some anemones. I was so shaky and nervous.

“I remember going home and saying to my mum ‘gosh, I've taken nearly £100 today’ because I was so excited. It was just brilliant.”

“It was also two weeks before Mother's Day,” the 48-year-old added.

“I had a massive learning curve with that, with friends and family helping me to turn it around.

“People used to joke and say ‘have you got a bed in there?’

“First thing in the morning until late at night, I was always there working.”

In 2000, following the development of Foreman’s Walk, Julia moved premises to a building opposite. It is now home to the Heart of Kent Hospice.

Her latest shop is just a few doors down the road, next to Betty Boo's Cafe, where she has been since 2002.

And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to her entrepreneurial spirit.

Her great-grandfather, Amos Weeks, ran a bakery in the village during the 1920s and ‘30s.

It is now a hairdresser called Cut Above and is less than 200 yards away from her store.

“My mum found a lovely picture of him standing outside the shop,” she said.

“Unfortunately, he didn't live to a very great age. I know he was a very nice man and worked very hard – as you had to back in those days.”

“We haven't moved far – four generations in the same village,” she added.

“When I opened people would know the history of our family. It is quite rare these days to stay in the same place.”

Julia first discovered her passion for floristry during her time at The Lenham School, formerly known as Swadelands.

She said: “I did part of my work experience at the vets and the other half was at a florist shop.

“It was fun, creative and you met a lot of people. Not one day is the same.”

Afterwards, Julia spent three years at Hadlow College and studied flower arranging, plant science, and finance.

The name Sweet William came from her friend’s father who worked for a florist in Paddock Wood.

After her own grandad died, Julia asked him to be her “adopted grandad”.

“Back in those days, he would go up to the market in Covent Garden and buy the flowers,” she said.

“His nickname was Sweet Willie. He was a lovely dear old boy – he had Parkinson's and used to shuffle along.

“I said to him if I ever had my own shop, I’d name it after him.”

Over the years, Julia says she has learnt to cope with the task of making every bouquet perfect.

It could be a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day, tulips for Mother’s Day, or a special poinsettia arrangement at Christmas.

“There is a lot of pressure that's put on you,” she explained.

“For funeral flowers, it's the very last thing something can be done for their loved one. It has to be absolutely spot on – there's no room for error.

“The same with a wedding, as it's their perfect day. They're spending all this money and it has to be right.”