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(Given by the Mayor of Hayes & Harlington on 18th November 1997.)
Over 60 people will be attending the ceremony. (In fact there were twice that)
They mainly comprise members of Gledwood Residents Association Committee and
Hayes & Harlington Old People's Welfare Committee. Mrs. Broughton's daughter,
and two of her sons (in fact all four sons came and her brother),
and their families have accepted invitation.
Representatives of Hayes Home Care Team will attend.
Well known people who have also accepted an invitation to date are:
Cllr. Lindsay Bliss; Cllr. Joan Blundell; Cllr. Michael Craxton; Ron Brown
Director of Social Services; Brian Turnbull, Head of Community Care Provider
Services; Mrs. Mary Brunker, Head of Meals Services; Mrs. Monica Smith, Manager
of Grassy Meadow Day Centre; Peter Russell, Chairman of Abbeyfields Society;
Mrs. Enid Beck, Manager, Abbeyfields, Hayes; Ms. Jackie Clarke, Chief Officer, Age
Concern Hillingdon; John Morgan, Woodwork Instructor; plus Kevin Bainborough
and Jason Devine - part of the team which made the memorial bench.
Maggie died on 20th March this year, aged 84. Most people who knew her felt
grateful that she was taken quite suddenly and didn't have to suffer being disabled.
Always ready to rush off to the aid of anyone ill or needing help, Maggie found it
very difficult when her busy and involved life was restricted due to her heart complaint.
She would have hated even more being dependant on others to look after her!
She was a tireless campaigner for the rights of people of all ages and beliefs.
Her care for the good of others sometimes made her unpopular because she would
tell people what she thought was good for them, even if they didn't want to hear it!
Maggie had a bubbling sense of humour which livened up many a dull meeting or gathering.
She told many tales of incidents both very funny and sad.
Her life story would make a really good book. Because she had donated her body to medical
research and no funeral took place, her family arranged an informal gathering on 7th
April to celebrate her life and work. Her family, colleagues, friends, and local
dignitaries all spoke of her with warmth and affection. Tears and sadness were
mingled with chuckles and some of the anecdotes and it was felt that Maggie would
have heartily approved of the latter.
Maggie served for many years on Gledwood Residents Association Committee whose
members joined with The Hayes & Harlington Old People's Welfare Committee in
promoting the permanent memorial to her for which we are all here tonight.
A very committed member of Hayes & Harlington Old People's Welfare Committee
for over forty years, she was its secretary for most of that time.
She organised the Christmas Parcels Scheme where each year volunteers made a house-
to-house collection for goods to be distributed to over 3000 pensioners living in the area.
Volunteers were also marshalled by her into the annual house-to-house collection for
money, helping with the Committee's annual Christmas Bazaar and Jumble Sales, and
setting up a stall at the Town Fete. All to fund the Committee's many projects. She
was deeply involved in the Committee's scheme to provide Christmas Day
hospitality for lonely pensioners. She instigated the annual holiday which included
housebound and disabled pensioners. Each year she charmed people into
volunteering to look after the disabled holidaymakers.Those holidays have now
taken place over thirty years. She started the Minibus Outings arranged each
Summer and Autumn for housebound pensioners. Maggie was the brains behind and
driving force of the Dining Centre for elderly people set up in Harlington which was
staffed by volunteers and ran successfully for over 20 years. She was very active in
the scheme whereby Committee volunteers deliver Meals-on-Wheels on behalf of the
Council. She did an unusual bit of fund raising by collecting the used foil containers
and selling them to a local company for recycling. More recently, she set up the
scheme for frail elderly people who are unable to bath safely at home to be brought
here and bathed by professional Carers in the Day Centre's special facilities.
She was deeply involved in the work of Abbeyfields Society which provides sheltered
housing for elderly people. Through that work, she received a Prince of Wales award
presented by the Duke of Westminster. Abbeyfields also nominated her fo the MBE
which was bestowed on her by the Queen in 1991.
(In fact 16th June 1990, for services to the elderly in Middlesex.)
Maggie served on Hillingdon Council, first for Labour and then the SDP. Her main
interest whilst in office was Social Services.
She was an active worker for Age Concern Hillingdon, for Hillingdon Community
Health Council, for her Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, and for the local Victim
Support Scheme.
Maggie remained active almost to the very end.
Before unveiling the Plaque on the wall, I would like to say a special thank you
to the woodworkers who made the seat to commemorate Maggie Broughton.
Our very own Maggie, she is sadly missed.