Local Heroes

Soroptimist for many decades’. Angela says “Whenever I go to Peggy with a query, she’s always got marvellous stories of practical approaches she’s been involved in and deserves to be recognised.” Peggy grew up during WWII in north London but now resides in Shortlands. She has three children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren; she says that family and friends are her greatest treasures.

I’m no hero! I believe our late Queen was. It was so kind of Angela to nominate me - a great surprise!

Originally, I trained as a secretary/PA and have enjoyed using the skills gained by working in the City of London, as a “temp” when the children were young. It gave me wide experience. I was a founder member of Bromley Town Twinning, was involved with Shortlands Residents’ Association, fundraised for Bromley Abbeyfield when building work was required and have collected for the British Legion for nearly 20 years. Our Mayor was particularly supportive last November, standing by our sales table for over an hour. I was invited to be a Soroptimist in the 1960s – an International organisation which aims to help locally and abroad, especially women and girls. It runs on similar lines to Rotary. I’d not heard of it! Our more active club members assist with our food banks; recently we have enabled girls in Morocco to have an education by providing safe transport for them. We aim to make the world a better place, having fun in the process. I’ve been President twice and fundraised for St Christopher’s Hospice. It was a privilege to work for the Wellcome Foundation locally; for example, they provided much needed vaccines for Papua New Guinea without financial profit. I later joined the Royal Albert Hall as a steward. It ended when I was 70; I did a one-mile sponsored Adieu to the Albert Hall swim - but we were considered too old to work at that time! I worked as a part time Warden at Buckingham Palace for a further ten years, meeting visitors from all over the world.

Having secretarial skills has opened many doors. In 2012 I volunteered to assist with the extra correspondence in our late Queen’s Jubilee Year, usually twice a week. It was a huge privilege.

I was a Beckenham Parochial Charity Trustee for 20 years until recently, my role being to help local schools give a broader education to their pupils - another huge privilege.

It means helping each other. Friends and neighbours are exceptionally supportive to me. During Covid, our church, St Mary’s Shortlands installed a kitchen at the back of the church when safer. Everyone welcome at the Community Café 11-1pm on Wednesdays. These coffee mornings still demonstrate the need for a chat and refreshments in a pleasant environment. I help with flowers at festival times. Mothers and Toddlers are another important community aspect. There is always some way in which one can help.

I’m nearly 89 – the plan is to stay on my feet!

It’s clean and green and a wonderfully central place, with lots of activity and a good shopping centre. There is easy travel to London or to the countryside. I have represented Bromley in our twin town, Neuwied, on the Rhine. There is always a very warm welcome on these visits and I recommend them.

Embrace opportunity. Be kind. Go the extra mile.