Fundraising Hero Recognised for Decades of Devotion at Belmont View

For many people living in Hoddesdon, Margaret Davison will be a familiar name. She has spent the last 36 years running local Rummage Sales within the grounds of our Hoddesdon care home, accepting donated items from the local community and selling them on for the benefit of the residents within the home.

Margaret worked at Belmont View care home in Hailey Lane, Hoddesdon for 38 years. She started working at there as a Housekeeper in 1971 after transferring from her role as a local Lollipop Lady. During her time at the home she was promoted to Senior Housekeeper and was also the winner of the prestigious Caring Times’ “Lifetime Achievement in Care” award, which she received at a glitzy ceremony in 2006. Retiring in 2008, Margaret continued to fundraise for the residents at the home.

Margaret, aided by Mrs Carol Salmon and Ms. Zulu, raised an astonishing £95,000 over the decades of running the Rummage sales, all of which was donated to the Belmont Runabout Fund. The money raised has been used to take the residents on trips out of the home, on materials for resident activities within the home and on other items for the residents. Recently the home used the funds to buy the residents a “Magic Table” which is a supersized table-top touch screen device that the residents use to run game, art and entertainment Apps.

After finally retiring from fundraising, the staff and residents at Belmont View held a farewell party for Margaret, which took place on 27th September.

After her farewell party Margaret said “I’ve loved my time here at Belmont View and I think of it as my second home! To be honest I feel like I’ve been here more over the years than I have been at my own home. It’s sad to leave after all this time, but I’ve still got lots of things to keep me busy.”

Sharon Howe, the manager at the care home said “Margaret has been a part of this home for as long as anyone can remember. She’s contributed so much to our residents over the years that it’s hard to put into words. Her kindness and her devotion to our wonderful residents has meant everything to us here at Belmont View. She’ll be terribly missed by us all. We wish her a long and happy second retirement.”

Margaret will be continuing her contributions to the local community through her volunteering work at St. Paul’s Church and her Christmas parcels for older people in Hoddesdon.