These were just some of the words used by the family to describe Margaret. “Opinionated” was also muttered but with respect, only in a light hearted, humourous way. It’s clear that Margaret was an incredible lady surrounded by her family who loved, respected and admired her.

Born on March 17th 1947, in Leeds, this is where Margaret spent most of her life. It’s where she met Dave, her partner of nearly forty years, and it’s where her three daughters and three sons grew up with wonderful memories. She made sure the children had a great outdoor life.

Camping was their favourite thing to do and taking the caravanette to near-by Appletreewick in the Dales, was their perfect treat. Although once when camping in a farmer’s field, her stepson will remember putting his foot right in it, and cows mooed all around them. On arrival, mum would sit in her chair giving orders on how to put up the tent, because she was the boss and that was that. What’s more, she’d take the credit too if she could get away with it!

Not only was she busy at home, she worked as a seamstress in a factory, eventually having her own business with her brother Jon. Being very creative, she was a dab hand at sewing and made a lot of the children’s clothes. She also loved crocheting doilies and knitting football scarfs for the boys.

Her sense of humour was mostly centered around Dave taking his trousers off. Once at a holiday camp, she and Dave were part of a game where members of the audience were dared to take off items of clothing. When she heard the word ‘trousers!”, she told Dave to whip them off sharpish, hooting with laughter. It was a standing joke. Poor Dave.

Margaret’s daughter Lorna lived in the South West and about twenty years ago she decided to move here too. At one time she fancied moving to France with brother Jon and daughter Karen but it didn’t really work out, so they came back.

She loved to cook and enjoyed baking buns, making pea and ham soup and meat and potato pies. She converted the Cornish Pasty into a “Yorkshire Pasty’ and whatever she cooked, was wonderful.

Margaret was very creative and apart from sewing, crochet and baking, she loved reading historic romantic novels. But watching Twilight, sometimes back to back with her daughters, kept her hooked a lot of the time. It became a family ritual.

She was a lady of many talents, the best of which was her ability to love and look after her family. She made sure that they never went without anything. Everyone knew where they stood with Margaret. She was trusted and would never let anyone down. When Margaret found out she was ill, she was more concerned about the upset it would cause, rather than her own health. An incredible lady. If asked about her finest achievement, she’d always say it was her Family.