So very sad to hear this - as a former student of yours, you really went above and beyond to support me in my A-levels. Your enthusiasm shone through always for history and you made every lesson interesting. I went on to get my only ever A grade under your guidance and you've left a lasting impression on me, 15 years since leaving college. I'm now a teacher too and specialise in history. Many thanks for your time and effort; a truly wonderful teacher

A lovely tribute, Hilary.Do you remember me,the eleven year old who visited Margaret now and then?You,Margaret and Chris came out to visit the family at Borwick one weekend,we took a long walk that day.Margaret visited us here in North Yorkshire about four years ago and promised to visit again but never got back again.We were unaware she had passed but were aware that something was wrong.Nice to hear of you three again,brought back happy memories I'm 71now and retired having had two marriages and four children all grown up thankfully.Best wishes for you future.

Thank you so much to all the people who contributed to the funeral service memories just now. It all brought back such lovely memories of my own over the last 40 years, and I could almost hear Margaret‘s voice as you spoke. Margaret always showed such kindness and took such an interest in my life and my family, and had such a sparkling sense of humour and a lovely smile. She will be much missed. Kriss Owen (although Margaret always called me Karissa!)

I remember Margaret with such fondness and will always be grateful to her for what I learned about history as subject, and of course not forgetting our cat chats x

I remember Margaret in the staffroom at New College. Always warm and smiling, always supportive, and with a great sense of humour. A lovely person to work with and even better to be friendly with. Chris B

I met Margaret on our first day at Lancaster University in the autumn of 1964 when she Chris and I were placed in digs together in Morecambe. As a threesome we remained friends for the next 56+ years. I have so many memories of our student years - those dreadful first weeks at Sunset View where we were soon 'asked to leave' (and were delighted to do so!); happier times at Hazeldene; then the move to The Hollies in Lancaster for our final year - 8 girls upstairs and 8 boys downstairs - life was never dull! Margaret was always the hard working one of the three of us. However, she could be tempted away from her books to join us on the Prom at Morecambe on Sundays - although she was never the one recovering from the party the night before! There are many later memories of our threesome which stand out - my marriage to Andrew in 1973 with Margaret and Chris as bridesmaids; our Silver Wedding party in the garden in 1998; celebrating Margaret's 70th visiting her beloved roses at David Austin followed by afternoon tea; our daughter Alexandra's wedding party in the garden in 2015; returning to Lancaster in 2017 50 years after we had graduated with afternoon tea (again!) at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe and visiting many old haunts; and more recently our delicious lunches at Lambs in Stratford - a great favourite with us all. Sadly the events of 2020 meant that we had not met since the autumn of 2019. Margaret will be remembered by us for her enthusiasm for so many things in life - cats, books, music, history, her garden, food to name but a few but perhaps most of all for her friends of whom she had so many. Always interested, caring and thinking of others even throughout her last illness we will forever remember and admire Margaret for her positive, determined, courageous and cheerful attitude to life. Our trio is now a duo but you were a true friend and will always be with us in spirit Margaret. We will miss you. Hilary 1st May 2021

I did not know Margaret very well but whenever we met in the Staff Room she was friendly and asked about my family. She was a lovely person.

My memory of Margaret at New College is quite particular, I admired her awesome intellect, and shared her love of cats, but for me it was her smile. No enigmatic Mona Lisa, but a full-on sun breaking through the clouds smile, suffusing her whole face. Beautiful to behold, marvellous to be its cause. Margaret was a truly lovely person. Roger Turner

A list of things I associate with Margaret - not in any particular order! Cats, garden centres, crumpets, true friendship, loyalty (we can’t fall out you know too much!), putting the world to rights, never being on time, garlic mushrooms at our favourite restaurant in Chadderton - the one with the Neapolitan waiter, Montalbano, ‘Prisoners of geography’ - an incredible book we recently discovered, Donna Leon crime stories set in Venice, making the most of life in spite of the difficulties it throws at you. I knew Margaret from age 10 at primary school. She used to have long blond plaits. She was in the year above me at Secondary school but we lived near each other and used to walk from Blackley to Tommy's chippy in Middleton of an evening and never stop chattering. She moved to Yealand Conyers near Carnforth at one point and we used to enjoy long walks to Silverdale and gossiping about some of her eccentric neighbours. We lost touch a bit when she went to Lancaster and I went to Italy for 17 years but renewed our friendship when I returned to England in 1989. I have always considered her my best friend. As I said to her recently I feel sorry for people who have never known what it is to enjoy such true friendship throughout their lives. Shannon Campbell 27/4/21

I remember Margaret as a kind and thoughtful colleague and a wise and witty person to chat to. I was full of admiration for her resilience and courage in the face of her illness over so many years. A tower of strength. Lynne Banks

Margaret was an absolute trouper when facing her illness over so many years. When you rang to see how she was, she immediately asked after your own health before you could get a word in edgeways. We shall remember her courage, resilience and compassion, her love of cats and her delight in her garden. We have lost a true friend whom we are missing very much. Our friendship went back over 50 years. We met as students, at first sharing digs at the dreaded 'Sunset View', before moving on to better accommodation , latterly at 'The Hollies' where Margaret would retreat to her attic bedroom, surrounded by books. She was indeed a very conscientious student. Sunday afternoons were often spent walking along the prom at Morecambe where we would behave like carefree children, enjoying the sea air. Several years ago Margaret, Hilary and I took a nostalgic trip back which included tea at the Midland Hotel. This was a far cry from student days in Lancaster when we would order one cup of tea plus one pot for three people to be economical and eke out our grants! Goodbye, dear Margaret with many thanks for so many memories. Chris

There will be a world of young people and not so young now you will treasure the memories they have of Margaret both as a teacher and a person. I know I could not have had a better head of department and a friend- there was a lot of laughter whilst planning all those lessons. She will be missed by so many.

We hope that you find this tribute to Margaret a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.