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Robin Little with Mayor Dawn Somper outside Hampstead Parish Church |
Tributes as Margaret Little is laid to rest
FORMER Hampstead councillor Margaret Little was laid to rest on Tuesday, with 200 mourners attending a service at St John at Hampstead Parish Church to pay their respects.
Margaret passed away last week following a long illness, aged 78, and among the mourners were friends, relatives, and councillors from the current administration and former colleagues, including officers from Hampstead’s Safer Neighbourhood teams, Royal Free chairwoman Pam Chesters, and Camden Civic Society chairman Martin Morton.
The service was held at the church where Margaret married in1950, with a wake afterwards at Hampstead Community Centre, where she had held surgeries for her constituents.
Her brother Dick Eberlie told mourners of childhood memories – and spoke of how Margaret had through her life managed to keep an impish sense of humour that she had had as a child.
He said: “Perhaps my first memory of Margaret was a summer holiday in 1939. We went to Suffolk and there was a mulberry tree in the garden in the place where we stayed.
“We collected juicy berries and then hid on top of a pergola, amongst wisteria and grapes. We dropped the berries on the unsuspecting heads of adults passing by.”
Lib-Dem leader Keith Moffitt revealed how Margaret had always ignored party politics to fight for the best deal she could get for her constituents, who she represented from 1994-2006.
He said: “She always wanted politics to be put to one side and for councillors simply to do what was best. Her great love was education and she was very proud of our schools, and was constantly telling people how good they were. I had to remind her before elections not to be quite so enthusiastic about the Labour Party’s record in schools.”
He also recalled visiting her in hospital, where, although undergoing treatment for cancer, she was surrounded by council papers.
He said: “She was very meticulous when it came to her council work, but she had a sense of fun. When she was sitting on development control committees, she would bring in a bottle of mineral water, which was actually a gin and tonic. She would share it with Councillor Flick Rea as they waded through very large agendas.”
Mary Ryan a former Labour councillor and governor at Maria Fidelis, where Margaret was also a governor, added that her background in teaching was a valuable source of wisdom. Margaret had taught for many years at a school in Holloway.
She said: “Margaret was a wise and devoted governor. She was particularly concerned about children with special needs and young people in public care.” |
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