When Margaret Anderson’s funeral takes place at Crathes, her family will also take the opportunity to pay tribute to her husband Bill, who died less than two years ago.
Bill, retired managing director of Wilmar Engineering, died in summer 2021 when Covid restrictions limited mourners at funerals.
Together the couple made Wilmar Engineering a success in the North Sea oil sector, from small beginnings in a shed near the beach.
Margaret was born in Elgin on April 13 1935 to Ernest Brown, who worked in insurance, and his wife, Margaret.
Her older brother Iain, was born in 1931 and went on to become depute head of the junior school at Robert Gordon’s College and finally headteacher at Smithfield School, Aberdeen. He was a well-known cricketer and also played a prominent role at Aberdeen FC.
Her sister, Jill Brown, born in 1937, was the first woman to make a speech at the Aberdeen Incorporated Trades Hall.
When the Second World War broke out, the family moved to Aberdeen where her father worked from the Monkey House offices in Union Street.
Margaret began her education at St Margaret’s School for Girls before moving on to Aberdeen High School, later known as Harlaw Academy.
War service
Meanwhile, despite being in his 40s, her father volunteered to help in the war effort and went in work in shipyards in Glasgow and the south coast of England.
After the war, he did not return to work in insurance in Aberdeen but opened a confectioner and tobacconist shop across the road from Mannofield Church where Margaret worked and then began to run.
She met Bill at the dancing and married at Mannofield Church in 1962. Bill had been a chief engineer in the merchant navy and, in 1965, founded Wilmar Engineering.
It grew to become an influential player in the offshore engineering market and, in time Bill devoted time to mentor apprentices and developing cooperation between colleges and industry.
The couple lived first in King’s Cross Road before moves to Bieldside, Cults and Banchory-Devenick where they built their own home. In later years they downsized and moved to Stoneywood.
Margaret and Bill enjoyed a long retirement together with many holidays around Scotland, especially to their west coast favourites of Ullapool and Gairloch.
In the summer, tennis fan Margaret would visit son Iain in London to attend matches at Wimbledon.
Iain said: “My mother loved Royal Deeside and spent a lot of time travelling around it with a friend.
“Last spring, 2022, because of decreased mobility, she went to live at the Cowdray Club. I am in awe of the care and sheer love she was shown by the team.”
Margaret’s funeral will take place at Baldarroch crematorium on Friday June 2 at 1pm.
You can read the family’s announcement here.
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