Meet the Owners
Hello. We are Michael and Paula Thomson. We own and manage Mr & Mrs Gardens Limited.
Michael
After completing my secondary school education in East Kilbride I joined the Army and served as a Commando Gunner in 3 Commando Brigade. My interest in gardening didn’t begin in the military, but I certainly learned how to work hard and how to do a job properly, with professionalism and enthusiasm.
I left the Army with an exemplary military service record. It was about this time in my life when my interest in gardening began. I started by helping my parents look after their garden. My Dad was in poor health and he couldn’t manage cutting the grass or hedges, but still enjoyed being able to go out in the garden. I carried out all the jobs my Dad couldn’t manage. This meant my parents could still enjoy a spot of light gardening without having to worry about the heavy labour intensive work.
I’ve had a couple of careers since leaving the Army. I was a Social Worker and worked with vulnerable adults, older people, and children and teenagers with multiple and profound disabilities. I also spent time working as a Social Worker in a busy Accident & Emergency department of a city hospital. As if my Social Work career wasn’t varied enough, I later went on to train and practise as a corporate and business Lawyer in England and in Scotland. From here I began tutoring law and business at the Open University, the University of Strathclyde, and a professional accountancy education provider. It was this tutoring work that gave me the desire to set up my own business and work for myself. Paula and I created Mr & Mrs Gardens Limited in 2013.
Paula
I’ve lived in East Kilbride all of my life. My Dad worked in the Rolls Royce factory in the town, and he and my Mum were among the first residents in the new town.
I come from a large family, and I’m the youngest. I have lovely memories of my Dad working away in the garden and me helping him. He, like many of his generation, was very particular about how the grass and hedges should be cut and maintained. He kept our garden neat and tidy and made sure the grass and hedges were cut regularly in order to maintain their good looks.
I still live in the house I grew up in, and I still cut and care for the same hedges my Dad started cutting and caring for over forty years ago. He taught me so much, as did my older brothers and sisters. I am very happy to be able to take care of the garden with the same enthusiasm as my Dad.
I’ve not had anything like the varied careers as Michael has had. In fact, I have been a Civil Servant since I left school, and I still work part-time as a Civil Servant in East Kilbride.