Margaret Linda Conner (28 Oct 1944 - 23 Nov 2019)

In loving memory of Margaret Linda Conner who sadly passed away on 23rd November 2019

In October 1944, as the blackout restrictions of WW2 were lifted and the Home Guard were stood down, Margaret Linda Stimson was born.

One of 10 children, Margaret grew up in the Coulsdon area, south of London. Siblings Kath, Eileen, Mick, Phil, Barry, Chris, Jim, Dave and Renny.

She attended the local Keston Primary School and Woodcote Senior school and was very good at netball.

Margaret had several jobs when she left school. She worked in the local Evans clothes store in Croydon for a while and later the Kennards Department Store in haberdashery.

She met husband Ron at Kennards. The lovely young couple married in August 1964, settling in Croydon.
Daughter Anita was born in 1965 and son Vincent a couple of years later.

After Ron gave up his joinery business, Margaret and Ron took over the Tiger Tavern in Tower Hill. It was the first of a string of pubs they ran, always providing Margaret’s excellent home cooking. They moved to the Cricketers in Chessington, then the Blackamoor’s Head and finally the Deer’s Hut in Liphook.

Both Margaret and Ron were hard-working parents. Christmas would always revolved around the pub in those days, but it was always fun. They did manage to have a few family holidays, often to Selsey, an area Margaret liked.

When Ron returned to the joinery trade, Margaret ran the Devil’s Punchbowl Pub for a while, before the family moved to Petersfield, then settled in Guildford.

Never a lady who rested on her laurels, Margaret worked in the community as a carer and after a few years Margaret and Ron opened a care home of their own.

It wasn’t all hard work – Margaret and Ron had some lovely holidays over the years in Malta, Spain and a trip to Bruges with their Aunt Olive and Uncle Tom who they visited often and spent many happy occasions. Over the years they kept many dogs and cats and both loved animals.

Margaret and Ron moved to Twinkle Cottage with Vince and Shirley and then following Ron’s death in 2006, Margaret moved to Alton with Anita, taking over Anita’s care until her untimely death from cancer in 2010.

From that point on Margaret remained fiercely independent, despite suffering with sarcoidosis, a chronic lung disease.

She was a member of the Women’s Institute for some years and worked as a volunteer for the local community care car service. Margaret had a wide circle of good friends, including June, Sandra and Anne who often took Margaret out for lunch or a trip to the garden centre.

In her quiet times, Margaret liked to listen to audio books, watch TV and enjoyed puzzles.

On the 23 November 2019, following years of battling with her illness and determination not to give in; Margaret closed her eyes for the very last time. She was 75 years old.

Margaret was a very private lady, reserved at times, but with a wonderful sense of humour.

She was incredibly hard working and caring, as her career proves.

She was Nan to Liam, Brugh, Cara, Dex and Ross and often baked with the grand children.
She was also Great Nan to Cara's children Poppy and Connor.

Family was always important to Margaret, she enjoyed all the Christmases, Mother’s Days and Birthdays she spent with Vince, Shirley and Shirley’s close family.

Reunited at last with Ron – may they both find peace of their final journey