Margaret Rose Saunders (6 Jun 1939 - 21 Nov 2022)

In loving memory of Margaret Rose Saunders who sadly passed away on 21st November 2022.

Margaret was born on the 6th of June 1939 in Welling, just a few months before the start of the 2nd World War,to parents Godfrey and Rose (Pop and Mid). Margaret was their second child, brother Don having been born 5 years earlier. Margaret had a very loving childhood growing up at 101 the Green in Welling and she would always speak fondly of her parents and her time growing up at 101. Despite having a mischievous streak as a young girl she excelled at school and went on to study Typing and Shorthand at Townsend Road Techinical College Bexleyheath.She had also learnt to play the violin, something in later life she would regret giving up and was also a talented seamstress,making her own Wedding Dress. At the age of 16 she started work as a secretary in New Bridge Street London. In 1958 she married Terry who had also grown up in Welling and after a 1 year stay with her parents they moved to Aylesford on the outskirts of Maidstone where Margaret was to live for the rest of her life. After a short spell working as a secretary in Maidstone she settled into life as a stay at home mum to sons Andrew who was born in November 1963 and Colin who came along 3 and a half years later. In 1976 her life was to go in a somewhat different direction. Terry had recently been made redundant from his Engineering job at Twin Disc and with his redundancy they bought a shop in Lordswood which was to become Sandy's Hardware. Despite various recessions and competition from the Supermarkets and on line shopping the shop still survives 46 years later.Margaret loved her time in the shop making many life long friends and would often be seen walking around Lordswood with her Cairn Terrier Tommy. In 2018 Margaret and Terry celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary, even closing the shop for the day, something they only did on very special occasions! Their letter from the queen is proudly displayed in the garden room of their home in Aylesford. In 2021 at the age of 82 Margaret's working life was brought to a sudden halt when she fell and broke her hip. Although she had been slowing down she was keen to still keep working. Unfortunately during her time in Hospital after her fall it was discovered she had advanced Cancer. Terry with the help of Andy and Colin and Care Nurses that came in daily they looked after Margaret for the last 18 months of her life at home. She died peacefully in the house she loved in Orchard Avenue. Margaret will be best remembered for her love of all sport (especially Cricket), dogs and talking! She was interested in people, their lives and loved people who made her laugh. She will be much missed by all her family, especially Terry, her two sons, two daughter in law's Jacky and Amanda and her beloved dog Teddy who was a present for her 80th
Birthday.