A Wonderful Godmother

Created by Tania 3 years ago

One of my first memories of childhood is sitting on a swing at our home in Yealand Corners being taught to spell 'camouflage' by Margaret. I still treasure so many of the marvellous books she bought me over the years, always accompanied by a cat card and that beautiful, instantly recognisable, black ink script. She recorded us mix-tapes of children’s stories and songs, and I cannot see a gingerbread man to this day without thinking of her. 

As an adult, I really cherished my conversations with her: we would talk about history, politics, gardens, books, cricket, teaching... and of course, cats. No matter how much she was undergoing personally, she was always genuinely interested in the world around her and the person in front of her. Patient, thoughtful, and kind without being sentimental or indulgent, her perspective was always one I valued.  

I loved visiting her at her home, surrounded by her pussy cats, furnished by cake or Black Bomber cheese and with the backdrop of that stunning garden to look at. She would feed us an amazing spread and we would always end up leaving far later than we meant to because we had lost ourselves in talking. I particularly loved the story of Harvey Bear's visit to the vet after a prolonged absence, where it turned out he wasn't the original Harvey Bear at all (”two reasons”) but Margaret, undeterred, took him home anyway, where he continued to live happily under his adopted identity.

I feel genuinely blessed to have counted Margaret among the significant people in my life. She was a deeply decent human being and possibly the kindest person I have ever met; I can’t remember her ever saying something sharp or waspish. I could not have asked for a better godmother; I will miss her tremendously.