Remembering Margaret Inniss: A tireless volunteer who brought colour to Slough for decades

Tributes have been paid to a Slough community figure who was central to the colourful Slough in Bloom celebration for three decades and worked as a reporter for the Express.

Margaret Inniss had many hats. She was chair of Chalvey Community Forum, treasurer for St Peter’s Church in Chalvey, chair of governors at Montem School, and chair of Slough Towns Women’s Guild.

But most of all, she stood out as the chair of Slough in Bloom, a competition encouraging residents to brighten up their gardens.

Margaret was a founding committee member 31 years ago – and the competition is still brightening up Slough borough to this day.

Slough in Bloom allowed Margaret to make good use of her ‘passion for nature’, her degree in horticulture, and her experience working in the parks departments of local councils.

Born in Chelsea in 1937, Margaret’s family moved to Whitton before she got her degree at the University of Reading and moved to Slough in the early 1970s.

She lived in Chalvey until 1990 and moved to Langley in the 1990s, remaining very much an active part of the community in Chalvey.

^{Margaret (front) celebrating her cherished Slough in Bloom competition in 2014.}

During her work life, Margaret was employed in the parks department at the Greater London Council and London County Council.

As a female manager and a ‘trend-setter’ for her time, Margaret’s department dealt with the planning and maintenance of municipal parks.

Margaret also worked for the Slough Express, where she met Pauline, now her daughter-in-law, married to her son Simon.

Pauline met Margaret in the 1990s when Margaret had already been working there part-time for some years.

Margaret was a community reporter for Upton Lea and Wexham and also wrote a weekly What’s On column covering local fêtes, exhibitions, gigs and shows.

“Margaret was very well-educated and had a lot of community presence. So her [writing that] piece just made sense,” said Pauline.

Simon and Pauline believe it was simply ‘in her nature’ to be so community minded, having come from that kind of background.

Margaret’s parents were highly community focused while living in Whitton, and Margaret took that forth into her adult life, volunteering as a Scout leader for more than 20 years.

A ‘very keen, avid gardener’, Slough in Bloom remained a passion for Margaret all her life. She was still working on the competition as its chair as recently as a couple of days prior to her passing.

^{Margaret (left) getting involved with for Environment Day in Chalvey, about 10 years ago.}

Margaret passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 21, aged 87.

Her loved ones remember her as being ‘very family orientated’ and ‘witty with a good sense of humour’ and a gifted conversationalist.

She was also a kind person and a good listener who gave good advice, said Simon.

“She was one of those people would always have an ear for anyone,” added Pauline.

On the news of her death, Slough Borough Council also paid tribute to Margaret.

The Mayor of Slough, Councillor Siobhan Dauti, said: “On behalf of the council and the borough I wanted to recognise the valuable contribution Margaret made to the town.

“There will be many people across the borough who have met Margaret and benefited from her volunteering roles she carried out so diligently across so many good causes.

“We were very lucky she gave so much time and hard work to the community.”

Margaret’s funeral will be held on August 8 at 11.30am at St Peter's Church, Chalvey, and all who knew her are welcome.

Those who wish to make any monetary donations in Margaret’s memory can do so to St Peter’s Church or towards Slough in Bloom.