Ex-teacher Margaret Alexander dies aged 93

May 1 2008

A WELL-KNOWN Hamilton teacher has died after a short illness.

The news of the death of Margaret Alexander, a former English teacher at Earnock High School, has been received with great sadness by her many friends and former pupils.

The 93-year-old, who lived in Strathmore Road, Hamilton, was among the staff when Earnock Secondary School (later Earnock High School) opened in 1957.

She had a unique way of teaching which, combined with her dry and pawky sense of humour, was instrumental in instilling a lasting love of English in the minds of a great many of her pupils.

A highly gifted and respected teacher, she contributed so much to the generations she taught.

Born in Carluke, Margaret moved to Mauchline, Ayrshire, with her parents when she was a young child.

A highly intelligent woman, she graduated M.A. from Glasgow University in 1935. She taught at Lugton in Ayrshire and at Rothsay before coming to Hamilton.

She was an active member of many local clubs and societies including the Soroptimists, Hamilton Business and Professional Woman’s Club, Hamilton Civic Society, Hamilton Natural History Society and the National Trust for Scotland.

She was widely travelled and visited many countries including America, Canada and China. She continued travelling until in her 80s.

Although she had reached the grand age of 93, Margaret Alexander’s mind was still as sharp as a tack and she retained her independence right up until the week before her death when she fell, and was subsequently admitted to Hairmyres Hospital.

A devout Christian and a member of Hamilton Old Parish Church, she was predeceased by her husband David and is survived by her daughters Marion and Margery and grandchildren, Hester, Duncan, Ruth, Linda and Sena.