Margaret Williamson, MBE

Margaret Williamson, MBE, whose award was for service to the community of Congleton, moved to Cheshire nearly forty years ago. During that time she has been extremely active within the community, holding various prominent positions as a Town Councillor, Mayor, Burgess of the Town and Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire.   

Doting on her six grandchildren, she still finds time to chair the Congleton Partnership which she regards as challenging and exciting, working with many talented volunteers and statutory bodies helping to revitalise and regenerate the town. 

After retiring as a geography teacher, Margaret having always been involved in different areas of education, became Education Officer for the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

She says, ‘I am passionate about improving the environment both rural and urban and the value of education generally. I have been called an eco-warrior, community stalwart and activist, those being the polite ones, and am very focussed on green issues.’

She regards one of the most rewarding things she has done in Congleton was spearheading the restoration of Congleton Park completed in 2005.  A primary school governor for fourteen years and a UK ambassador for Guiding, Margaret still shows no signs of slowing down in her retirement.

She regards Congleton as an extraordinary place to live because of its great community spirit and she just loves the town. She feels that she brings some experience and knowledge of the wider community to the rebranding project.