It is with very great regret and sadness that we announce the death, following a short stay in hospital, of one of Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa’s Trustees – Madge Bergman.
Madge was one of the original Waltham Forest A.C.T.S.A. (Action for South Africa) members before we became the registered charity “Thuso”. Despite a number of health problems and family bereavements in her last few years she remained committed to “Thuso” and her work with local trainee G.Ps.
Born into a large family in Liverpool, Madge left home by herself at 15 for a six month stay in Italy! She then went on to train as a teacher and social worker. She lived in Walthamstow and became chair of the Greenleaf School PTA, was a Woodcraft Folk leader and was active on the Priory Court estate working with the Tenants Association.
She then moved to Deal in Kent where she worked as a social worker and set up a women’s refuge.
On the death of her partner, John, Madge returned to Walthamstow to be near some of her family and also her dearest friend, Jean Croxton, whom she tirelessly nursed until the latter’s untimely death. She was heavily involved in health monitoring locally and was Chair of PPI, (the Patient and Public Involvement Forum), a project that launched Waltham forest LINK, (Local Involvement Network). She represented LINK on the Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust board, a clinical governance group, and was a driving force on the LINK report on neurological services which made many recommendations for improvement.
In her spare time (!) Madge was involved with the News from Nowhere club and also with the Pyramid Trust which worked to increase young children’s confidence in learning.
She leaves three children, Carmela, Jonathan, and Daniel and four grandchildren. Madge was a lively and extrovert person who will be greatly missed and remembered by many people with great affection as a good friend and a dedicated champion for improving life and services in Waltham Forest.
DONATION FOR MADGE
