A tribute>>> Margaret first came to work for Scout Enterprises in September 2005. Since then she has been an asset to our Milton Keynes Resource Centre where she helped many people to get back into work. Margaret always put 100% into her work and often went the extra mile to assist some of the many people she has worked with through the years. Margaret had a particular soft spot for some of the younger people who came to us for help. She would often take on a maternal role with them giving them good sound advice,emotional support and when the need arose she would give them a proverbial kick up the bum to help move them on in their lives. Margaret was always an excellent team player too if anyone needed an extra hand she would always be willing to help out. If there was any extra work to be done she would be the first to volunteer. When times were very busy Margaret was a great support to me as her Manager. Margaret was worth her weight in gold...it's just as well we dont pay in gold as we could never have afforded her! Margaret was by far the most committed and loyal member of staff i have ever had the privilege to work with. She was my calm in a storm when things got a bit fraught. She was my confidante when things got a bit difficult. She was my memory when i was over stretched and couldnt keep up with myself..she was my strong right arm and i will miss her terribly. Margaret was also my friend although in work she never forgot that i was her manager and as some of you may know she never introduced me by my name she would simply call me "her boss lady". There were times when Margaret did drive me to despair however. She never could quite get her head around polictical correctedness and on occasions came very close to the mark with some of her comments which would make me shudder. Although she was always forgiven because anyone who knew her would know that she never meant any offence or malice or disrespect. She could also be the most stubborn person. Once she made her mind up about something there was nothing that anyone could do to change her mind. It was however this same stubborness and determination that enabled her to fight her condition for so long. It's what we at Scouts might call turning a negative into a positive. Margaret was a lady who was always prepared....for anything! and in fact it was quite appropriate that she worked for Scout's whose motto is aptly "be prepared". She was a very practical lady who always kept her head in a crisis and would simply settle into what needed to be done and she would just do it! Margaret loved her work with Scout's so much so that even when she was having her chemo treatment one day she phoned me at work to tell me she had arranged an interview for one of our clients. I said to her "but Margaret i thought you were supposed to be having your chemo?" she replied..."Well there's nothing wrong with my voicebox is there"? That was just typical of the way Margaret dealt with her condition. As far as she was concerned just because she had cancer didnt mean everything else had to stop. Everything didnt stop just because she had cancer and in fact as we know she didnt stop until right at the very end when she could go on no longer and could do no more. Margaret was someone who liked to serve others...always making sure everyone else was ok. Another time that Margaret showed great determination was when during her treatments she offered to help with my daughters wedding dress. We had bought her a dress from the internet and when it arrived it was disappointing but we had no money to buy a new dress. Margaret decided she could and would turn my daughters wedding dress into a fairytale wedding dress. It took her hours upon hours and weeks upon weeks to sew on thousands of tiny little swaroszky crystals often staying up late into the night even though she was so very tired from her treatments. I pleaded with her to stop and let me get someone to finish it off for her but she would not hear of it. She promised my daughter a fairytale dress and a fairytale dress she would give her. And, she did!! It was spectacular. An outstandingly beautiful fairytale princess wedding dress. A masterpiece. Margarets determination had won through again. Margaret was wihtout doubt a remarkable lady who showed incredible bravery and courage throughout her illness. She was an inspiration to us all. Margaret you are loved by so many people and will be missed by us all. Thank you for all you have done and for allowing me to be a part of your special journey. You will have a special place in my heart always. Sweet dreams my friend..BIG BIRD!! Lots of love always from your Boss Lady xxx