Margaret and Ted’s Legacy

Margaret and Ted were a wonderful couple who were married for 58 years. Their love and devotion to one another served as an inspiring example for all of us.

Margaret had been an active member of Basingstoke Community Churches Connected since the 1970s. She played a significant role in the church, having run the Church Sunday School for many years, even teaching my wife as a child. I met Margaret in 2004 through the church, and it was through her that I came to know Ted.

From the moment I met Margaret and Ted, it was evident that they wished to leave a donation to St. Michael’s Hospice in their Will. Although they didn’t have a personal connection to the Hospice, they held it in high regard for its compassionate care for those at the end of their lives. This decision was not made lightly; the Hospice had been part of their wishes for many years. They appreciated all the work the Hospice did and wanted to help ensure that care continued in their community.

What were they like?

Ted was a quiet, gentle man. What struck me most was his strong sense of right and wrong; he approached life with integrity. Margaret was patient, kind, and humble, always taking a “cup half full” perspective. Neither of them had a disparaging word to say about anyone, and they were always willing to help others

Their Background

Margaret began documenting her life story while at Ashcombe House, and much of what follows is in her own words:

Ted was born in Aldershot in June 1924. After finishing school, his first job was making medals and engraving for a manufacturing jeweller. He was always skilled with his hands. In 1942, at the age of 18, Ted was drafted into the Royal Air Force, where he trained as a rear gunner. After the war, he returned to his job at the jeweller’s.

I was born in April 1929 in Kilburn, Northwest London. In 1946, my mother’s family offered us a bungalow and a job for my father near Aldershot, so we moved when I was 17. I found work at a large electronics factory and stayed there for 10 years. I attended weekly dancing classes, where I met Ted. I shouldn’t have been there—none of my church friends attended dance lessons—but when Ted offered me a lift home on his Lambretta in 1958, he truly swept me off my feet.

We started dating and got engaged in 1959. We bought a house in Farnborough the following year and married on October 8, 1960. After some time, the owner of the watchmaking firm retired and sold his business. A friend of Ted’s informed him about a factory that was starting up in electronics. Nobody knew much about electronics then, but Ted was offered a job making parts for civilian aircraft.

Ted excelled in his new job and eventually took charge of one of the factory’s sections. This opportunity brought us to Basingstoke in 1965. Upon our arrival, I discovered the Basingstoke Baptist Church, which later became Basingstoke Community Church, and I became part of the fellowship. I worked in the civil service for 25 years at Grosvenor House in Basing View, holding several roles until I retired at 60. Although Ted officially retired at 65, his former boss started a new company and asked him to return, which he did, working well into his 80s.

In 2017, while on holiday, Ted began to feel unwell, and upon our return, tests revealed that his spine was deteriorating. After a period of care at home, Ted moved to Ashcombe House. Because we had always been together, I moved to Ashcombe House just four months later.

Margaret and Ted left a gift in their Will to St. Michael’s Hospice to help fund future care. Thanks to people like Margaret and Ted, we can continue to be here for our local community.

To find out more about how to leave a gift in your Will, click here.