I first met Margot about 60 years ago when she was a first-year student at I M Marsh PE College.  She was an outstanding student who excelled in so many sports – Lacrosse, tennis, cricket, athletics, swimming.  In her third year she was the Senior Student. After leaving college she went on to play representative Lacrosse for the South of England and England Reserves.
 
At some time during her college course we asked students to make up games, sometimes mini version of established games and at other times new games. Margot was brilliant at this and continued to make up games for the rest of her life.  When she and Malc had young children and came to stay at our holiday cottage (Chase Lodge) we spent much of the time playing Margot’s made up games, and they were not just for the children. Our aim at that time was to get Claire and Chris to bed as early as possible and then the adults could go out to play.  Games had to be able to adapt to failing light!  We usually used a ‘whiffle’ ball so we could hear it coming. Whenever we met we would end up playing some mad game. Very recently, during lock down, Margot amused herself playing a cross between shove halfpenny and curling in the hall of her flat using a broom and basins etc.
 
On one of their early visits to the cottage we went shopping with Margot and Malc: food shopping I think the aim was. Anyway, we came back with them having bought a 10 ft caravan!  This became a major feature in their lives and they had so many adventures in it.  It had an awning and one time they called at the cottage on the way to somewhere North. Grandma (Granny Gin as Margot called her) was with them and slept in the awning with an ant’s nest and other creatures that Chris had brought with him.
 
Time spent with Margot was never dull. She had some tough times with her health but never was boring about them.  She remained lively, amusing, enthusiastic, courageous and loyal at all times, and quite mad.  Not for nothing was her email address dottimargi.   My life is so much richer from having known her.