A tribute to Margaret O’Neill

Margaret O’Neill, long serving Lothian and Borders Police branch secretary, died in December 2010 after retiring on health grounds two years before.

Maggie to many UNISON friends, and ‘Mags’ to other friends and family, will be remembered as someone who lived life to the full, gave great commitment to the union for over 25 years and who had an infectious sense of fun.

“Margaret was instrumental in resurrecting the Police Regional Committee on which all eight Scottish Forces are represented”, said long time colleague, friend and current branch secretary Lucille Inglis.

“Margaret was also a National Rep for many years”.

Before Lothian and Borders Police had their own Branch, Maggie, as I knew her, was a Service Conditions officer from the 1980s with the Lothian Region Branch of NALGO then UNISON. A huge responsibility then for a young woman in her 20s but one she took on with energy and enthusiasm.

She was an advocate for equalities, like championing the rights of single parents, way back in the time when that was a much harder job than it is today.

She had an enormous network of contacts and who she didn’t know in the police force was not worth knowing!

Her sense of fun and her warmth is what most colleagues will remember and friends and family spoke so eloquently of that at her funeral.

After retiring Maggie was able to spend quality time with her real treasures in life - her daughter Jenna and her grandson Liam.

John Stevenson

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