A well-known Walthamstow teacher and wife of the last Mayor of Leyton has died at the age of 96

Margaret ‘Madge’ Messenger, also known as Mary, was involved in schools and churches across the borough for decades during her working life.

The mother-of-five was passionate about education and her community, as well as politics and history, according to her family.

Mrs Messenger was born and grew up in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, before moving to London in 1938.

It was at a St Patrick's Day dance in Leyton where she met Terry, who she married in 1942.

The Messengers had their five children before Madge trained to be a teacher in the early 70s.

She worked at the former Corpus Christi catholic secondary school in Leytonstone until 1984 before formally retiring.

However, she continued to work at the school as a supply teacher after it became Holy Family College until the age of 72.

Mrs Messenger was a well-known teacher in Walthamstow and wife of the former Mayor of Leyton

Mrs Messenger was responsible for hundreds of local pupils as head of first year.

Outside of work, Madge was an active parishioner at St Joseph's Church in Leyton, then St George's Parish Church in Walthamstow.

Her late husband was the last mayor of the borough of Leyton (1964-65) and served on both Leyton and then Waltham Forest councils for many years before he died in 1995.

In retirement Madge was very active, giving support to her children and grandchildren.

She dedicated herself to researching different strands of her family's history and managed to trace her husband's lineage back all the way back to 16th Century Cornwall.

Grandson Tom Davies said: “Although she spent her later years in a care home – receiving excellent care at the St Anne's Catholic retirement home in Stoke Newington – she was a fighter and a survivor, reaching the age of 96 a couple of weeks before passing away peacefully last Thursday morning, April 9.

“Her love and compassion, tenacity, intelligence and commitment to the community and social justice will be much missed, but also greatly remembered.”

The third of six siblings, Madge is survived by her younger sister Kathleen and five children - Maire, Dympna, Sheila, Imelda and Terry – 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held April 17 at St Anne's Church in Manor Road, Stoke Newington, for family and close friends only.

No flowers are requested but donations can be made to the charity Little Sisters of the Poor, A Bennett and Sons, 460 - 462 Hoe St, Walthamstow, London E17 9AH.

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