Margaret Denny

Transport and Civil Aviation from 1957-8, Margaret Churchard became widely known throughout the UK shipping industry.

Born in Richmond, Surrey, she was educated at Dover County School and Bedford College,

London University. Her stepfather, William R Lenanton, owned a large timber business and was appointed Head of Timber in the Ministry of Supply during the war.

On Margaret's first day in the Ministry of Shipping, her boss, an elderly Scot, was stunned by the fact that his new aide was a woman and sent her home to absorb the whole of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1845. This was an impossible task, but from it she developed a special knowledge and understanding of the international laws of safety at sea.

This linked with her innate charm and ability to assess those with whom her work took her into contact, and they were from all walks of life - engineering officers, seamen, shipbuilders, ship owners, and trade union people. She earned from all respect and support.

Suffice it to say that in the New Years Honours List of 1946 her outstanding service was recognised with an OBE.

Mrs Denny was promoted to Assistant Secretary and attended the International Labour Organisation's Maritime Conference in Seattle in June, 1946, where

her long and arduous work earned the special commendation of

Mr George Strauss, the then

Parliamentary Secretary, who led the delegation.

She was appointed to take charge of the Railways Division and in 1954 she returned to take charge of the Marine Division where her knowledge and experience of shipping matters were invaluable. Her work brought her into contact with ship owners and shipbuilders throughout the UK which was to start a totally different but equally rewarding chapter of her life when she met and married Edward Denny. He proposed after only their fourth meeting.

Although they were in their twenties, Edward's daughters, Susan and Jennifer, found they had a loving, caring mother who shared a great love with their father of gardening and the countryside in general.

From this came involvement with the National Trust for Scotland whose committees she served for over 20 years. She was Vice President of the Trust for 10 years from 1981 to 1991.

Colin Donald, of the National Trust for Scotland, recalled: ''A member of one of the best-known shipbuilding families on the Clyde told me that Margaret gave the shipbuilders a very hard time, putting them through all kinds of hoops with her rigorous intellect and all round competence at her job. So much so, that when in 1957 she married Edward Denny and as a result resolved to retire from the Civil Service, there was much relief on the Clyde - bowler hats were thrown into the air literally and metaphorically and their gratitude was evidenced by an extremely generous wedding present to the happy couple!''

Her ''retirement'' was a continuation of public service, but in a

voluntary capacity and a Scottish context. She was a member of the Scottish Advisory Council for

Aviation, the Western Regional Hospital Board, the Scottish Committee Council of Industrial Design, the General Advisory Council BBC, the General Nursing Council Scotland 62-78, the Board of Management, State Hospital, Carstairs, and held the positions of Vice-Chairman Argyll and Clyde Health Board, County Commissioner Girl Guides in Dunbartonshire, and Deputy Lieutenant for Dunbartonshire. She became a Vice President of the National Trust for Scotland in 1981 and after 10 years in that office she was accorded the rare honour of being made a Vice President Emeritus.

Margaret Denny was a tireless champion of the work of the Trust in the West of Scotland. She would support bold proposals, but never hesitated to argue against rash ones. To her, the Trust was not only about stately homes. Just as important were properties such as the Tenement House in Glasgow, the Hill House in Helensburgh, Geilston Garden in Cardross, and her beloved Loch and Ben Lomond.

She was a very conscientious attender of meetings regardless

of weather conditions and lat-

terly impervious to the difficulties of mobility with her trusty

elbow crutches.

Bill Heaney