Well-known Buxton resident dies aged 96

Margaret Robinson moved to the town with her family 38 years ago after becoming disabled with ME (post viral syndrome). Prior to that she had been a social worker working in the most deprived areas of Manchester.

In time once her condition improved, Margaret volunteered with Buxton and High Peak Samaritans, and once in her early 70s and looking for a new challenge, she enrolled on an Interior Design Course at Stockport College. Eager to pass on her new skills, she joined Buxton U3A and was soon teaching Interior Design to students sat around her kitchen table.

She taught art groups and even the Brownies and for several years she sold her work in the Pump Room exhibition.

Flower arranging was the next challenge on her to-do-list. She particularly enjoyed creating floral displays for the group’s entries into the Festival Fringe.

St Anne’s Catholic Church was always very important to Margaret. She became a Eucharistic Minister giving Communion both in church and out visiting the sick. A founder member of the Church Parish Council, she supported many of its activities and fund raising efforts.

Margaret was a member of the Cavendish Decorative & Fine Arts Society and a Friend of Buxton Festival and attended many operas, talks & recitals over the years.

She also joined the U3A Oral History group where she entertained members with stories of her war years, in particular her time spent rat catching & thatching in the land army. Recordings of these memories were made and in 2020 they became part of the Women’s Land Army National Archive.

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