Someone who knew Margaret from her school days was John Brooke, who like Margaret entered the teaching profession and shared her passion of local history in his own area of Lightcliffe. 

John takes this opportunity to remind us about Margaret's life.   

Margaret grew up in Clifton where her family had an association with the Methodist Church since its inception. She was educated initially at the village school and then at Whitcliffe Mount Grammar School in Cleckheaton. She then qualified as a teacher after attending Balls Park College of Education in Hertfordshire. Margaret taught initially in Birmingham and, on returning to the Brighouse area, at Elland CE School and Woodhouse School in Brighouse.

Margaret had a great love for the place of her birth, and this manifested itself in four splendid books: I Didn't Know That (written in 2009), Down the Acres (2012), Clifton War Memorial (2014), and Clifton Timeline (2019). All her books involved considerable research, were attractively presented with illustrations, maps and documents, and written in a lucid and readable style. They will give future generations an understanding of the development of the village and the sacrifice made by so many from the community in two world wars.

In addition to her writing Margaret led Heritage walks, continued to have a passion for the village and was a member of the Brighouse History Society and the Rastrick Local History Group.  

Margaret leaves a great legacy, not just as a writer and local historian but as a person with a great zest for life. Her gracious manner and her generosity of spirit will live long in the memory of those who knew her.

John Brooke

The local history writers and presenters are a small group in the Brighouse area and we all knew Margaret. What ever writing or publishing projects any of us were working on Margaret was always pleased to share her knowledge and help when asked.

We send our condolences to Margaret's husband Michael, children Steven, Joanne and Patrick and grandchildren, She was a friend of many and will be greatly missed.

Chris Helme