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Margot Allan: A tribute

A tribute to nurse Margaret (Margot) Kerr Grey Allan (1932-2017).
Margaret Kerr Grey Allan

A tribute to nurse Margaret (Margot) Kerr Grey Allan (1932-2017)


Margaret (Margot) Kerr Grey Allan

Margaret (Margot) Kerr Grey Allan was born near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, on Bettyfield Farm in 1932.

Margot wanted to be a nurse from her early teens, when she worked as a childminder for the Berry family in nearby Whitsome at 14.

The family and Margot moved to Dumfries. At the age of 16, she returned home, then Grantshouse, to gain permission from her parents and move to Edinburgh to train to be a nurse.

True calling

Margot was a proud member of the Pelican Nurses' League. She trained and qualified at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary School of Nursing where she took up a post initially in the children’s wards, then moved to gynaecology before her true calling; theatre.

Margot retired just before1990 having worked in theatre at Roodlands Hospital in Haddington, East Lothian.

Margot’s biggest thrill, and one she recalled to her carers not long before she passed away, was holding a beating heart during an operation; remembering the profound effect it had on her, confirming the special nature of theatre nursing and that she was where she should be.

In between nursing and being a mother to five sons, Margot was the much-admired founder of East Linton Youth Club. She ran weekly youth club nights every Monday in the East Linton Community Hall, was the host and ‘doorman’ for discos, and the organiser of enjoyable trips to places such as Butlins and the Lake District.

Loving and nurturing

It was her breadth of caring that made Margot special: from the Berry children; to nursing; as inspiring youth leader; loving and nurturing her own children; caring for the extensive list of grateful East Linton village folk, who regularly came to the house for advice, and the tender mercy her enormous heart allowed her to share so unconditionally.

Margot was the beloved wife of the late Jimmy senior, loving mum of Jimmy junior, Dave, Brian, Andrew and Chris and much-loved granny to Laura, Kerry, Kirstin, Stuart, Lucy, Elise, Grant and William.

A celebration of Margot’s life, to which all friends and family are invited, will be held at Houndwood Crematorium, Grantshouse, TD14 5TP on Thursday 12 October at 11:30am. Family flowers only please, and donations in aid of the charity Alzheimer Scotland may be given if desired.


Submitted by Andrew Allan, son of Margot

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