A much loved woman who shared a special date with the Dorset Echo came close to reaching her 100th birthday.

Margaret Clark, who was known to family and friends as ‘Marge’, was born on May 28, 1921 in Weymouth.

Like the Dorset Echo, she would have been celebrating her 100th birthday today, but sadly Marge passed away on May 1, 2021, just before her 100th birthday.

One of 13 children born to Isaac and May, Marge grew up with a love of the sea, fishing and swimming with sisters Lily and Joan – she caught a big lobster with her bare hands, cockles and razor fish at Ferrybridge and loved recounting her memories there.

Her father worked at Portland Stone Quarry and looked after the horses which moved the big stones. He went on to work for the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland and was sent to London to learn to drive – he then drove the Mayor’s car – the first private car to be owned and driven on Portland!

He returned from war and resumed at the stone quarries working with his beloved horses. His friend, Louis Basso, owned salvage boats and diving gear and recovered items from sunken boats off Weymouth and Portland.

Dorset Echo: Margaret Clark (aged 95)

Marge Clark's father was friends with Louis Basso

He wore a full diving outfit (one of the earliest from Italy) and had involvement in the sinking of The Hood at the entrance of Portland Harbour.

Marge started work In Service at a big white house on the left about a mile from Boot Hill. When war broke out she was deployed to work at Whiteheads (torpedo works) where she met Cecil Clark (known as ‘Nobby’). They married but had no children. Nobby was a precision tool marker and compositor. He later became blind through diabetes and then had his guide dogs, including Billy. After the war, Marge became school cook at Holy Trinity School, living at Wardcliffe Road.

Marge easily made friends and often helped neighbours in her road at times of illness, caring for them and cooking. She also walked their dogs and had a regular meet up with other dog walkers who became lifelong friends. She looked after her siblings’ children (and their grandchildren) and her house was always open to many visitors. She was very proud of her parents and all her siblings and loved to talk about them.

Dorset Echo:

Article on Marge when she shared her 60th birthday with the Dorset Echo

About 20 years’ ago she came to live in Dorchester, where her last two remaining sisters lived. She loved her flat at Whetstones next to the Borough Gardens and walking into town. The three sisters did many trips out together – Joan had a car and did the driving. Her last big celebration was her 95th birthday and she celebrated it at Whetstones with family and friends.

Whilst living there, she especially loved her fish-n-chip get-togethers. Marge enjoyed having her hair permed and set regularly. She enjoyed keeping her nails well manicured and took pride in her appearance.

The Everycare team became involved in her care and she loved her visits and especially with one of the managers, whose husband was a local fisherman, and they shared many stories of Weymouth.

Thirteen months’ ago Marge moved to Goldcrest Residential Home when she needed 24 hour care. The staff were wonderful and she enjoyed her time there, especially the home cooked food! Sadly, she passed away on 1st May, just before her 100th Birthday.

Lyn Davey, whose husband was Marge's nephew, said: "She had a great interest in family and friends and enjoyed as many visits as possible until lockdown. She meant so much to all of us, she was an amazing lady."