To mark the passing of Society long-time member and Librarian, Margaret Neal, for members who were unable to attend her funeral and other friends, we publish the tribute from the Society written by Marion Kettle which she orated at Margaret’s funeral

Tribute to Margaret Kathleen Neal from the Landor (Local History) Society

 

Margaret’s first attendance at a Landor Society meeting was in February 1961, an illustrated talk about Yugoslavia, a last-minute replacement for a cancelled visit to an electronics firm. She was not a regular attendee until 1963, when Cora Bramwell (the Rugeley Librarian and later great friend of Margaret’s) also joined. Margaret became a committee member in 1966, remaining so for 60 years. From 1969 she was Minutes Secretary and then General Secretary from 1992 until 2008. In 2007 she became the Society’s official Librarian.

 

Alec was a founder member of the Society when it was formed in 1953. Following their marriage in October 1982, Margaret and Alec enjoyed shared interests in local history, conservation and gardening. In 1990 they visited Texas to give talks to the American Rugeley Family History Association. Following Alec’s sudden death in 1991, Landor became the centre of Margaret’s life, not only because of her interest in Rugeley’s history but also because of her continuing devotion to Alec. As a labour of love, she completed his unfinished manuscript ‘Looking Back on Rugeley’, on which he was working at the time of his death and in 1993, on the 40th Anniversary of the Society’s formation, it was finally published. Their home was, without doubt, the Landor Society’s office, library and headquarters!

 

Margaret was assiduous in maintaining and adding to the Society’s collection (sometimes a bit too

assiduous!!) very much a typical librarian of her generation. The collection which she helped to bring together is outstanding. She organised history walks around Rugeley, such as a visit to St Joseph’s Church to see the stained-glass window of The Good Shepherd wearing a miner’s hat and a notable canal trip via motorboat from the Church Bridge to Wharf Cottage, Bellamour, during which members collected specimens of water plants and wildflowers. No health and safety rules in those days!!

 

Margaret prepared displays for the town’s festivities and annually for Rugeley Library. She wrote newspaper and magazine articles and organised extra mural activities with annual short history courses. She also dealt with the publishing and sale of our Society’s publications.

 

Margaret had a lovely sense of humour and a phenomenal memory. She could put her hand on information about anything that you asked about Rugeley. We were always struck by her determination, even when she was becoming unwell. She would never have chosen to abandon Landor!

 

The name ‘Margaret’ derives from the Latin ‘Margarita’ which translates as ‘pearl’. It’s symbolic connection comes from the belief that pearls are precious and rare – akin to the value attributed to those bearing this name. Margaret was truly precious and rare and will be greatly missed by all of us.

 

Subscriptions for 2026 (£10 per person) were due in January.  If you have not yet paid, please do so as soon as possible.

 

Visitors will be charged £2.00 for each visit.

 

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THE NEW STAFFORDSHIRE HISTORY CENTRE

 

The new Staffordshire History Centre, which incorporates the William Salt Library, has now opened in the enlarged previous Record Office building in Eastgate Street. More information can be obtained from their website:

https://www.staffordshirehistory.org.uk/staffordshire-history-centre/

 

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