LOVING TRIBUTE TO BRAVE MARGARET

Scunthorpe Telegraph 27th August 2004

A husband has paid a loving tribute to the bravery of his wife, who died recently at their home aged 57 after losing her battle against ovarian cancer.

Of his wife Margaret, Ian Robinson said: "She was a wonderful person, wife and mother - and she was so brave. Her bravery and the fact she never seemed to be afraid of dying is the thing which stood out." Margaret, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 2002, died at their Gunness home following months of continued support from her family and the staff of Ward 19 at Scunthorpe General Hospital, where she received most of her treatment.

Speaking of her early life, Ian said it had always been a mystery why, when her parents were from North Lincolnshire, Margaret had been born in Portbury near Bristol.

"They must have been on holiday down there and came home with Margaret," said Ian.

As a child, she lived with her family in Winteringham, where she attended the infants and junior schools before continuing her education at Winterton Comprehensive School - as it was known in those days.

When Margaret left school she went to work for Wolsey's sports shop in Scunthorpe High Street and that is where she met Ian who, at the time, worked next door for Gray's motorcycles.

She continued to work in the sports shop for two or three years before being employed by Ian's mother in her bakery shop on the corner of Sheffield Street and Mulgrave Street.

Margaret worked there for three years - in which time she and Ian, who was the sales manager at the former Thompsons of Scunthorpe, were married in 1966 at Winteringham Church.

They made their first home together in Oxford Street, Ashby, where they lived until 1988.

Three years after they married they became the proud parents of a son, Andrew, who today works as the head chef at the Wortley House Hotel. And in 1972 Andrew was followed by a sister, Terresa.

Six years later Margaret went to work part time as a collector for the Prudential Assurance on Doncaster Road.

Later, she worked in the office there and, in 1990, she became a full-time administrator for the company - but when they closed the Scunthorpe office, Margaret went to work for them in Grimsby and later in Lincoln where she stayed until 2002 when she became redundant after serving 24 years.

After a few months of being a lady of leisure, Margaret decided she would like to go back to work on a part-time basis and became a receptionist in the Lindsey Suite at Scunthorpe General Hospital.

Following the diagnosis of her illness, she was treated on Ward 19 at the hospital as well as at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, where she underwent two operations.

"I can't speak highly enough of the staff on Ward 19 in Scunthorpe. They are wonderful people and so too are those at Castle Hill," said Ian.

He went on to pay tribute to the support Margaret had given him and how, when he was closely associated with local under-18s cricketers, she would drive the team in a mini-bus to matches and then go on to score for them as well. She would willingly do this, said Ian, when he wasn't available.

"That was in the 1970s and early 1980s and then I became a golfer and Margaret's interest at the time was looking after the children. But she would support me in everything I did. I was captain of Holme Hall Golf Club in 2001, the year before she was diagnosed with cancer."

Ian went on to say he and his wife also had a great interest in travel and as well as spending a lot of time in Tenerife they had enjoyed holidays in Florida, Hong Kong and destinations in Africa.

A funeral service for Margaret was held at the Woodlands Crematorium in Scunthorpe and a request for donations in lieu of flowers exceeded £900, which has been donated to Ward 19 at the hospital

[Note: A school picture which includes Margaret can be found on www.winteringham.info]

STAFF TACKLE FIRE AT CEMENT FACTORY

Scunthorpe Telegraph 26th August 2004

A blaze in an electrical sub station meant a call out for firefighters.

A sub station at the RMC cement works in South Ferriby, near Barton, was on fire, at about 4.30pm on Tuesday. But when the fire crew arrived the blaze had been extinguished by works' personnel.

The fire crew were on the scene for about 30 minutes and used a thermal image camera to check there was nobody caught up in the aftermath of the blaze.

No-one was injured in the fire at the factory, on Sluice Road, South, Ferriby, and the fire crew only had to carry out an inspection.

'BACK IN TIME' ON LANCASTER FLIGHT

Scunthorpe Telegraph 19th August 2004

A pensioner has flown in a Lancaster bomber for the first time in 60 years - and described the experience as 'tremendous'.

The flight, which took place in Canada in one of the last two airworthy Lancaster bombers in the world, was organised by his family and brought back many fond memories of flying during the Second World War. Dennis Cooper, of Angerstein Road, Scunthorpe, said as soon as he entered the bomber he immediately recognised the layout.

"Nothing had changed and I could remember where everything was," he said. "It was an amazing experience."

Mr Cooper, (79), said he had always been 'fascinated' by aeroplanes and first flew in a Tiger Moth aeroplane 70 years ago.

His first flight in a Lancaster bomber was when he was 20 years old.

Mr Cooper, who served as a radio operator throughout the war, was based at Stradishall, in Norfolk.

He said missions across the Ruhr Valley in Germany were among his most memorable.

After the end of the war, Mr Cooper, who grew up in Winteringham and has lived in Scunthorpe for most of his life, got a job at the Lysaght's steelworks, where he worked until he was made redundant at the age of 57.

Air shows and gardening are now his main hobbies, but Mr Cooper, who has now returned to Scunthorpe after his big holiday, said nothing would ever top his flight in the four-engined Lancaster.

It came about when he and his sons were visiting his sisters and extended family in Canada.

Mr Cooper's family took him to see the plane, one of only two working Avro Lancasters in the world.

"This was a great treat but they completely surprised me by saying I could fly in it," he said.

Mr Cooper said he had a passion for flying and took to the skies whenever he could.

"I went on Concorde and I have also flown on Boeing 747s on my holidays, but nothing will ever be as special as the Lancaster," he said.

"I have always enjoyed flying and have been fascinated with aeroplanes, ever since I was a boy really."

More than 7,000 Lancaster bombers were built, but only two airworthy examples still exist - many others have become land-based exhibits in museums.

But those interested in the Lancaster do not have to travel to Canada to see the other flying example, as it is based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

It takes part in regular Battle of Britain historical flights, popular with history boffins from around the world.

Did you know? Orville Wright, aviation pioneer, was born on this day in 1871.

CEREMONY ON ONTARIO SHORES

Scunthorpe Telegraph 3rd August 2004

The wedding has taken place of Rachel Tong and Colin Brown at the Anglican Church, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada.

Rachel, a former teacher at Holme Valley Primary School, is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Bernard Tong, of Winteringham. The bridegroom, a computer graphics designer, is the son of Mr and Mrs Roger Brown of Hamilton, Ontario. Given away by her father, the bride wore a designer dress of ivory satin overlaid with embroidered tuile, adorned with organza flowers and crystals.

She was attended by her cousin, Elizabeth Hayton, who wore a two-piece gown of Burgundy shot silk, enhanced with matching wrap.

The duties of best man were shared by the bridegroom's two brothers, Craig and Adam.

The reception was held at Edgewater Manor on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The honeymoon was spent at Niagara Falls and later at the Brown family island cottage on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.