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MARGARET WORT
RIP |
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Margaret was one of the featured
parishioners in our
Golden Jubilee magazine published in 2007.
Here is writer Michael Taub’s updated version of
that article. |
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THE passing of long-time Holy
Family parishioner Margaret Wort at the age of 84
severs another precious link with times past and
those of the Irish community born before the
outbreak of World War II. Margaret was a kind and
gentle soul and until recently a regular attendee at
morning Mass. She will be much missed in the parish. |
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Margaret was one of six children
born to Maggie and Willie Sweeney in Thurles, Co
Tipperary. The year was 1924. She came to London at
the age of 21 just as the war was ending. A year
later she married soldier Albert Wort and they
settled in Fulham.
The couple had three children by the time they came
to Langley in 1958, a year after the opening of the
Church. They were eight-year-old Johnny,
seven-year-old Margaret and little Eddie, aged four.
The family settled in Darrell Close, off Trelawney
Avenue. Times were tough and Margaret managed to
juggle her duties as a mother with her job as a
waitress at Forte’s Hotel at Heathrow.
"I used to
mind a friend’s three children when she went to work
and she did the same for me. People were very much
poorer than they are today and Fr Crawfurd was a
wonderfully generous priest. I had friends who were
very badly off and he’d go to their homes to visit. |
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"I remember once when he
visited us. It was a Friday and I apologised because
Albert, a non-Catholic, was eating meat. He smiled
and said, ‘When in Rome…’ He was lovely." |
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Sons Johnny and Eddie retraced
their mother’s steps, to a degree. Johnny is now 60
and a Councillor back in Margaret’s native Thurles.
Eddie became a much-valued sous chef at Forte’s,
winning a Best Apprentice award along the way. One
of Margaret’s proud possessions was a photo of him
aged 21 being presented with his certificate by
chief executive Rocco Forte, son of the hotel’s
founder Charles Forte.
Margaret and Albert, 83, would
talk fondly but sadly of Margaret’s younger brother
Paddy, who came to live with them in Langley. He and
Albert were drinking buddies but, in 1989, Paddy
suffered a stroke and died.
Margaret recalled: "He was a wonderful brother with
a wonderful nature. We missed him so much.
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"Fr Crawfurd ..
a wonderfully
generous priest." |
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"Before bringing his ashes back to
Thurles I took the casket on a pilgrimage round Slough
in a carrier bag, so he could say goodbye to the places
he knew." |
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Margaret and
Albert |
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Margaret was particularly proud of
Albert’s ability as an artist. Several of his pictures,
depicting Irish scenes and landmarks, adorn the
front-room walls of the little house in Hubert Road,
just a few streets up from their former residence in
Darrell Close.
Margaret was a true woman of worship. "I love attending
Church," she would say. "I go every morning and meet all
my friends, my wonderful friends.
"But after that the days can drag. I like to get to bed
early and read the prayer books sent to me by my sister
Nora Foley, who also rings from time to time. Nora’s 87
and has a farm in Liskeeven, near Thurles. She’s an
amazing woman. Even at her age she’s able to do all
those tough jobs on the farm that a man should be
doing." |
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Margaret was thankful for the
blessings in her life. She recalled "When I came here
there was just a handful of Irish. It’s awful different
now. I’m lucky – I have lovely friends and lovely
neighbours."
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And so farewell, dear
Margaret, fifty years a parishioner
and so staunch of faith; you leave us with
such
sweet and abiding memories.
Our sincere condolences go to Albert and the
family.
Margaret's Requiem Mass
was on
Tuesday, 28 October, 2008, followed by interment at Slough Crematorium. |
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