Gordon & Margaret Gray

Reporting Joan West.

February 2024. I had known Gordon and Margaret Gray and their son Oliver for a long time but actually didn't know a lot about them.

I knew that Oliver had become an electrician and had his own business, which I relied on for all help electric.

I knew that Margaret had organised a Flower and Wedding Dress exhibition for The Local History Group - at which time she joined the group and helped with other exhibitions, but did not do 'research'.

I just felt there was more to know about Margaret, but she protested that she was nothing really to tell.

With my 'Researcher's Hat' on, I asked Margaret if she would come for a coffee and tell me more.

Margaret, I now realise, is one of those people who doesn't know how to say "No" when asked to help. And is then completely modest about it all.

After prompting with a few leading questions Margaret revealed just how much she had done and is still doing.

1982/3. Living in Flackwell Heath on a noisy road, Gordon hoped to move to a house on a quieter road. They found the perfect place in Kiln Lane, Lacey Green. It was at that time just the foundations of a house, on the site of Apple Tree Cottage, which had been lived in by Mr & Mrs Adams.

Gordon ran his own furniture factory 'G.M. Gray Furniture' in Copyground Lane, High Wycombe, making reproduction furniture.

Margaret had no intention of helping the cub scouts. However when an ultimatum was put that unless a couple of people 'stepped up' the group would close, Margaret, bearing in mind that Oliver was one of the cubs, 'stepped up', together with a friend.

She was a flower arranger at Lacey Green Church. I knew she had been one for the 1986 Flower Festival, but when Peter Hale was one of The Vicars of St.John's Margaret became 'The Flower Arranger'. There was not going to be a rota of arrangers any more, but just one person - Margaret.

Arranging flowers was not her only association with the church, for she had become one of the Sunday School Teachers, using the Upper Room (the old gallery) She did give up her work with the cubs at that time, she was working with the 'Beavers' then, (the young ones, both boys & girls).

From about 2002/3 Margaret took on the role of Church Verger, making sure everything was prepared and in place for special services such as weddings and funerals.

She is now a Churchwarden.

I asked. Did you join any other organisation?

She said that she went to the afternoon W.I. once or twice, but quickly joined the Evening W.I. Now on the Committee, currently appointed with Daphne Williams to arrange the booking of speakers - a three year stint now in its last year.

I asked What other little snippets were there which we hadn't talked about.

Just as she was leaving - Caning sprang to mind. Demonstrating chair caning at the school.

Summary. This cannot be summed up at this point. There is more to come from that last question I feel sure.

I am sure that Margaret is one of largely 'unsung heroes' that helps to keep our world ticking along, usually without the praise they deserve.

I hope we can meet again soon.