TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the country's longest-serving female Scout leaders, who died last week after devoting 53 years of her life to the movement.
Addiscombe stalwart Margaret Brownett died last Tuesday at Croydon University Hospital after battling emphysema.
The 83-year-old mother of three had lived in Croydon since 1960, becoming involved with the 49th Croydon Scouts, at Christchurch Methodist Church, in Lower Addiscombe Road, soon after.
Her son Colin told the Advertiser: "She was a Scout and Cub leader for so long; she taught four generations of Croydon children, their children and their children's children.
"She gave her life to it, it's amazing what she did. She was one of those people that would drop everything and do anything for everyone. She was a great lady, and it is very upsetting that she's gone. But she did a hell of a lot with her life."
Margaret married her husband of 48 years, William Brownett, in St Peter's Church, South Croydon, and brought up her three children, Colin, Peter and Brenda, in Thornton Heath.
She then had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Although her husband, an engineer for British Telecom, died in 2000, Margaret kept leading Cub Scouts and remained involved with her church while living in Addiscombe Court Road.
Steve French, district commissioner for Croydon Scouting, said: "In 2011 Margaret was presented with the Silver Wolf... the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded in recognition of Scouting of the most exceptional nature. I think this describes Margaret very well."
A funeral will take place at Addiscombe Methodist Church on February 18.
