Margaret Blaker

It is a challenging exercise to write about the life of a close, loyal and generous friend. So much can be said. But I shall keep this relevant to Margaret�s friendship to me and to our family.

Margaret would be truly surprised that we were talking about her! She would not be comfortable but at the same time would appreciate the need for us to share our thoughts. I know how much she valued her friendships and contacts here in Bognor and at St. Wilfrid�s when she made her home here with Gwen.

Margaret was an inspiring teacher. Her pupils were important to her and she shared in their progress and triumphs, also in their disappointments. She was proud of those who followed the academic route but showed equal interest in students who found literature a difficult subject. Margaret herself was a student at Oxford of both C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkien of �Lord of the Rings fame� � and carried something of the wonder and mystery of language with her � in her love of books and in her prose revealed in her letters and postcards.

In spite of her well-trained mind and high academic achievements Margaret was always modest and understated. She carried her academia lightly. Many of her friends and colleagues were stunned when she resigned as Deputy Head of a prestigious High School for Girls to work with blind students at Clapham Park School � where she introduced GCSE and delighted in their progress. That was Margaret. She had great faith in the young.

She valued people and was a great encourager. While she took a deep interest in her friends she did not try and control them � but shared wise counsel with concern and humour. Most of her geese were swans and many of her geese did turn into swans!

As I know she was for many, Margaret was a wonderful friend to our family. She took a great interest in each child and especially in her God-daughter Annie. Whatever their interests, talents or ideas she would embrace them � whether it be motorbikes, drums, art or football. She remained amazingly alive to modern issues and current ideas.

Margaret could be very funny � she had a child-like naivety and great wisdom. Her adventures in trying to kidnap a stray cat on the front at Bognor was always a family story. Also the time she took us to the zoo and the two-year old told her the squirrel had bitten him � and she believed him!

Ever faithful , only Margaret � after a long days teaching would deliver 56 Parish Magazines � toiling along London streets in the dark.

Whenever we saw Joan Higson as Miss Marple we thought of Margaret � a seemingly benign elderly lady with a razor- sharp mind.

Only recently when her eyesight began to fail she adapted to a tape-recorder and said �I�m following Morse my Dear�.

Margaret�s influence will go on amongst all of us who have had the privilege of knowing her. She has enriched us all and will be part of us always.

Dai

Dai was Margaret's nickname for Cynthia over many years. Margaret was Dai's teacher at Camden High School back in the 50s and it was there that their friendship began. Later she became a close family friend and Godmother to Anna.

Margaret

My wife and I met Margaret before we got married over 36 years ago and she remained a faithful, loving, devoted and a highly trusted family friend till her death. It was through Margaret that my wife and I became strong members of our local parish Church St James Clapham. Margaret was a reader then and in one of her sermons she urged the congregation to listen carefully to the inner / silent voice to their calling and how best they can serve God. It was from her sermon that I remembered that my father, back in Nigeria, wanted me to go into the ministry. Therefore, I decided on some ministerial training and first I became a reader and later ordained into the priesthood to God�s glory and to Margaret�s credit.

Margaret's wonderful character

Loving � She never treated us as different - even though we were from different races and cultural backgrounds.

Margaret introduced many people into St James Church and most of them are still strong members of our Church till today. Margaret donated a small library at the back of the Church just before she left Clapham after her retirement to encourage many more people to read Christian books.

Practical � Margaret supported Christine all through her education, when choosing her A levels, she gave advice such that it showed that she knew Christine even better then herself! When Christine chose to study Architecture for her degree Margaret brought Christine to Bognor and stocked her up with the starter materials for the course - when Christine hadn't even read the list!

Attention to detail- Margaret is famous for noticing the interests of my family and then equipping them with literature to further their interests - sending books, leaflets and newspaper articles. Every book Margaret sent to a member of the family has a written note at the front, words of wisdom and knowledge - our bookshelves are full with wonderful memories of Margaret

Margaret as a God mother:

Margaret was a wonderful Godmother; my wife Val and I have never regretted the decision to choose Margaret as a Godmother for Christine. Christine always said Margaret was more like a "fairy" godmother. In fact Margaret was like a Godmother to all of my children. Where others were distant or disappointed Margaret was always there for them. Even when she moved to Bognor she always kept in touch with Birthday cards, telephone calls and the most wonderful encouraging letters. Margaret never forgot a birthday, even when she became frail. I have really grown accustomed to Margaret's handwriting and I will really miss writing to and receiving letters from her. Margaret was very encouraging and full of wisdom and prayer. Margaret took the vows that she made at Christine's christening very seriously the vows to support the parents and help bring up the child in the Christian way- and she live them out.

Margaret�s Christian influence:

Margaret was a great example of someone who walked the Christian way and lived out the gospel through her life not only with her words but also through her actions. Margaret has been a great Christian influence on my life and that of my daughter Christine. I firmly believe that it was Margaret's Christian influence and gentle but steady encouragement that sustained Christine and helped her in her faith during her teenage years when many of her peers were leaving Church.

Sister Margaret reminds me of all what mother Theresa stood for. My family and I thank God for having the privilege to know Margaret - her prayerful wisdom, loving kindness and gentle encouragements have been showered upon us for many years. She will be so missed - but we know she is with the Lord now. May her sweet soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Revd. John Ohen

The Work of a Lay Eucharistic Minister

Margaret Blaker, July 2008

A reprint of an article Margaret prepared for the parish magazine in 2008 which highlights an important part of her life - being a Lay Eucharistic Minister

�What is that?� you may well be asking. It is such a long and clumsy name for such a beautiful calling, though it actually means what it says.

The Christian Church uses the term to name a lay, that is not ordained, person who takes Holy Communion regularly to the housebound. These may be in their own homes or in rest homes.

For anyone who undertakes this lay ministry there is a short training course. There are no tests or examinations at the end. The course is to ensure that the one being trained to go out really understands the Eucharist in all the details of its celebration.

It is the task of the Lay Minister to carry the consecrated host from the church to the communicant in a little round box called a pyx, in a special purse or little bag. The actual order of service follows the beginning of our own Eucharist, including the Confession, Collect and Gospel. Then the service moves to the Lord�s Prayer and our usual words of distribution and thanksgiving. It has become my practice to make intercessions after this, as then their length can be varied to the physical power of concentration of the communicant. In this way the climax, the act of communion, comes before the person is too tired.

Those who are visited are deeply appreciative. The one who visits finds this very humbling. We are Christ�s ministers, called by God to serve Him. We go in this strength alone.

Here at St Wilfrid�s we need more to undertake this work. There are many rest homes in our parish, so many waiting to receive the Christ they worshipped and served when they could be out and about.

Is God calling you?