CRY Legacy - Marjorie M Borner

In September we received the largest personal donation in CRY’s history from Marjorie M Borner. Marjorie chose four charities to support in her will, gifting an absolutely incredible £194,267.80 to CRY. We very much appreciate Betty Oldmeadow writing a tribute to Marjorie, to tell us more about her close friend and why she chose to support CRY.

“Marjorie was an only child and never married. She lived all her life in her parents’ home in Halfway, Sheerness, Kent. She attended Halfway Houses County Primary School which was situated a few yards from her bungalow, then went on to Sittingbourne County Grammar School.

She then trained as a teacher at London University’s Avery Hill College and graduated in August 1947. Immediately securing a post at Halfway School, she returned to the place where she began her education.

Remaining at the school for 41 years, she became the longest serving teacher. She was involved in school activities long after her retirement in 1988 and served on the Parent Teacher Association.

Marjorie’s aim in life was to ensure that all the children she taught would leave her care being familiar with all the basics in English and Maths. She loved working with figures and was meticulous about household accounts; being frugal rated high on her agenda.

She was a strict disciplinarian and saying ‘please and thank you’ was non-negotiable. She could quote the names of many children that had passed through her hands over the years, kept her class lists and was well acquainted with their families. She was often consulted about the history of the school.

Even after retirement, she continued to pop into the school most days. She would have been well aware of the sad death in 2002 of 8 year old pupil Charlotte Wright who died from cardiac arrest while on a school trip. It is highly likely that she knew (or taught) members of Charlotte’s family and this would have affected her deeply.

Charlotte’s mother was part of CRY’s campaign to raise awareness about undiagnosed heart conditions that can kill young people without warning. This sad story no doubt influenced Marjorie’s decision to choose CRY as one of the charities she wanted to support.

I was witness to the fact that she often sat in a cold house in order to leave a substantial donation in her Will to children’s charities, after setting aside funds for care if needed. But she was independent to the end, never went into care and remained in her home until she was admitted to hospital, where sadly she passed away at the age of 93.

She had a fun side and always enjoyed dressing up and taking part in fund raising activities, for instance Fetes, Book Day or Red Nose Day. She was a staunch supporter of St. John Ambulance, the RNLI and was an active member of the Sheppey Scout Movement. She wore the uniform with pride and took on the role of Badge Secretary; she was affectionately known as ‘Madge the Badge.’

She attended the Methodist Church in Sheerness, rarely missing a Sunday. She was very knowledgeable about plants and loved her garden. She was an extremely talented seamstress and knitter; a hoard of unworn beautiful jumpers were sent to Africa.

She was very interested in local history, the history of Great Britain and was a Royalist. She believed strongly in life-long learning. Being a very sociable person, she was a well-known figure on Sheppey. She visited many National Trust places in England, but finally ventured abroad for the first time, in her retirement, to visit close friends who had moved to France.

She was a lady of many faces and interests and being last in line, with no close family once her parents passed away, the children she taught became her family. Her generosity is proof, beyond doubt, that she could not bear the thought of children suffering. It is comforting to know that her wish was granted and that she was in a position, after her death, to support CRY; an organisation deserving of all possible help.

Not easy to incorporate 93 years of a life well lived into a few paragraphs, but I hope I have done my dear friend justice. She was a remarkable lady and claimed to be able to look back on a blessed life; the most anyone could ask for before meeting their Lord and Master.”

Ex School Secretary and executor of Marjorie’s estate –Betty Oldmeadow – Oct 2022.

Marjorie enjoying the Halfway school archives. Equipment used in the old days i.e. the abacus and a school desk

Marjorie in a red dress during a school assembly for Red Nose Day