CHINGFORD: Popular 'agony aunt' dies (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

CHINGFORD: Popular 'agony aunt' dies

9:00am Sunday 5th February 2012 in News By Joe Curtis

A POPULAR great-grandmother and community “agony aunt” has died after a lifetime helping others.

Peggy Rouse, 86, died last Wednesday (January 31) following a heart attack.

Family and friends have paid tribute to Mrs Rouse, a well-known character in Chingford who dedicated her retirement to raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The pensioner also made many friends while collecting money outside the Cancer Research shop in Chingford Mount Road and would often provide support and advice to passers-by.

Despite being confined to an electric wheelchair, Mrs Rouse would spend all day outside the shop – even in poor weather.

She also often helped out at Highams Court in Friars Close, Chingford, an NHS care unit for patients often too frail to return home, washing the older residents and accompanying them on day trips.

Granddaughter Katie Maddams, 30, said: “She became an agony aunt for the community.

“They shared their worries with her because she was such a caring person. She was a best friend to me.”

Son Steve Rouse, 58, added: “Her whole life has been spent providing help and love for the community. She was so generous, benevolent and patient – everything that most of us aspire to be.

“She must have helped hundreds of people in her time. “She never thought of herself as being old. She would be helping old people younger than herself into the minibus and taking care of them. It was funny but so typical of how much she thought of others”

“She knew it was her time, but she has enriched our lives so much so that’s what we are remembering all the joy she brought us.”

Mrs Rouse’s funeral will be held on February 10 at 11am at South Chingford Congregational Church in Chingford Mount Road.

Rather than sending flowers, well-wishers are asked to make a small donation to either Cancer Research or the British Heart Foundation.