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Abstract

A heartbroken family are today (Friday) saying their final goodbye to Margaret “Peggy” Liddiard – who leaves behind 93 grandchildren across three generations.

Peggy, a dedicated volunteer at Holloway community centres, was a mother to nine, a grandmother to 31, a great-grandmother to 58 and great-great-grandmother to four – and the majority still live in Islington.

Born in Tottenham, Peggy, one of nine children, met her husband Bill while working on the railways before moving to Avenell Road, Highbury, in 1950.

Peggy, who lived in Surr Street, Holloway, worked as a cleaner for the Metropolitan Police for most of her life but spent most of her later life volunteering.

She was at the Drovers Centre in Holloway almost every day. Peggy set up the Young at Heart club, held on Wednesday evenings, to encourage older people to get out of their homes at night and get involved in bingo and entertaining – two of Peggy’s loves. When funding ran out, Peggy kept the club going, out of her own pocket. She also ran a drama class at the nearby Goodinge Community Centre.

Peggy would always have her family round for Christmas and made sure she bought a gift for absolutely everyone. When the numbers grew too great for her home, she simply hired out the Drovers Centre and packed in 70 members of the family in 2002 – fondly remembered by one of her grand­daughters, Claire Barrett.

“It was decked out with rows of tables, Santa costumes and Christmas trees and Nanny was in the kitchen cooking Turkey and beef. It’s such a lovely memory,” said Claire, who lived with Peggy for many years.

A true Cockney, Peggy was a big Tottenham Hotspur supporter and loved her pie and mash.

“She was absolutely fearless – she even went into Pentonville to play bowls with the prisoners,” Claire added. “She was opinionated but never judgmental. She loved to sing and entertain and would tell the best stories. She was still singing in her hospital bed – she would have people in stitches with her songs.”

Peggy died aged 89 of natural causes. A funeral procession will set off from outside Blake House in Breckock Road at 11am. It will stop briefly at the Drovers Centre before going on to the funeral service at Edmonton Cemetery.