Margaret originally left school without going to university and worked as a lab technician at ICI until she had her first child. She learnt how to book-keep so that she could do the family business's books until the children went to secondary school then she decided to study again.

Eventually she got a place at the University of Manchester's School of Biological Sciences where she graduated with an honours degree.

She went on to take a PhD studying the transport of two radionuclides, caesium 134 and strontium 85, around bracken. As bracken is a clonal plant it gave clues as to what was happening in similar plants and clonal grasses in highland areas where sheep were grazing but with the transport of two more dangerous radionuclides, caesium 137 and strontium 90 contained in fallout from chernobyl.

Margaret helped edit a conference proceedings on the arctic environment and then decided to produce health-related DVDs for GPs and hospitals. She produced one for the Disablement Services Centre (DSC) at Withington Hospital, Manchester where she was also the secretary of the Prosthetic User Group.

With the backing of the User Group and DSC staff she set up Manchester Amputee Fitness Initiative (MANFIT) which provides gym, swimming and non-contact boxing sessions in safe, private environments.

The free gym sessions are based at The Manchester College, Openshaw Campus in the fitness suite followed by a free meal. These sessions are funded by Public Health Manchester.

Non-contact boxing sessions are held at Moss Side Fire Station gym and are subsidised by the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and cost £1.50.

Swimming sessions are held at Manchester Aquatics Centre (MAC) and cost £1.00. They are held in a private training pool but a vibrant cafe and poolside view is available after the session. Theese sessons are funded by Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust.

 

Since working on her dissertation for the MPHe Margaret has studied the causes and pathways involved in cancer. Her honorary and voluntary work fitted in well with her part-time book-keeping job for the family's business and always made sure she was there when Karen came home from the day centre for people with learning difficulties.

 

The Views of Carers of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities on Annual Health Checks - Final Report

Our report on The Views of Carers of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities on Annual Health Checks - Final Report - published on the Public Health England - Improving Health and Lives website. The impetus to do this was because Karen, my daughter, had learning disabilities and to help other people with LD:

The Views of Carers of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities on Annual Health Checks - Final Report