Maggie - Margaret Mary Watson (7 Feb 1954 - 18 Feb 2016)

I clearly remember the day I met the Watson Clan back at Easter in 2003 and feeling so warmly welcomed by everyone.
Alexis, my new best friend at University had invited me round for the Easter weekend. Margaret and I chatted for two hours after dinner, she was very supportive of my Drama adventure and she introduced me to the film 'It's A Wonderful Life' and remarked "you have never seen 'It's A Wonderful Life'?!" The next Christmas it was her gift to me and it has become one of my absolute favourite films of all time. This is the type of person Maggie was, we made an instant connection that Easter and she always remained supportive, loving and particularly warm to me through the years.

When I think of Maggie I think of family and how important this was to her. Maggie didn't care much for fancy cars or big houses, she cared about family, this is what was most important to her. We, her family are now her legacy and she will live on through us.

Just a handful of things The Conti Clan will miss about Maggie: her monthly visits, outings, meals out, her little sense of adventure, her willingness to partake, cider tasting, ENDLESS cups of tea, a glass of vino, quiet nights in, being 'Nanny' to Giorgi and Bella and of course AFTERNOON TEA! We've said our farewells on 1st March but you'll never be forgotten Maggie, we will remember you when we do all these things and many more.

One last thing, THANK YOU... your favourite Son-in-Law, Leo x

I'll never forget Maggie. She was an inspiration, as a mother, as a nurse and just as a person! She was brave and courageous and so funny. I can't remember a time when I spent time with Maggie without at some point laughing!
It has taken me ages to start writing this because even as I write it I am again reminded that words just are not enough.
I hope you are in a better place Maggie. We will miss you, but we will try to live up to your excellent example!

We count it a privilege to have known Maggie in the early days of the rebuilding of Mortimer West End Chapel. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family in your loss of a very special mum and wife.

Marks Words read by his brother Duncan


Maggie was born in London in 1954 to a Scottish Dad and Welsh Mum giving her divided loyalties, that is until her nephews started playing rugby for England. But it seemed very appropriate to have Maggie's funeral on St. David's day.
When Maggie got her diagnosis of Cancer, she faced the outcome with great courage. People asked if she had a bucket list, to which she replied “No I want to concentrate on what I have achieved in life,”. When she started to write, she wrote in large capitals “Raising 3 wonderful children” and all three have been rocks who both Maggie and Mark have relied on extensively over the last few months. Maggie also loved acting as second Mum to her daughters and son-in-law Leo Philli and Rachael, making a bit of a mockery of the mother-in-law jokes. When Maggie was presented with grandchildren she was over the moon, and was a fully active “Nanny”. The sad fact is that the grandchildren will not now benefit from her Wisdom, Common sense and love. Maggie throughout her life was a very giving person, highlighted by her career, which was spent as a nurse, midwife and carer, and even when retired volunteering to do charity work. All Maggie's family and friends will miss the happy, sensible, fun loving character that lit up their lives.

We would firstly like to thank you all for coming here to today to celebrate the life of our Mum, Margaret Mary Watson.

We are James and John, Maggie’s little boys. My boys as she called us.

We both felt it was important that we stand here and talk about our Mum together.

I had the privilege to do the same for Mums Mum when she passed away and it is an honour to stand here and do the same for our Mum.

Whilst is it us that stands here, we speak these words on behalf of our dad Mark and Alexis our Sister, as well as the rest of our family.

Mum went for a routine CT scan to check for gallstones. We left and went off shopping for fireworks for that evening’s bonfire night. Mum then got a phone call, asking her to come back to the hospital. We both knew this wouldn’t be good news. We went back to the hospital and we entered the room where the Nurses and Doctors were waiting. She sat down, broad shouldered and insisted that they tell her straight.

Mum sat and took every piece of information given to her and didn’t batter an eyelid.

However, her 6 foot 27 year old son, was in pieces. The first mum knew of this was when the Doctor passed me a box of tissues.

Only at this point did Mum become upset, but not because of the life changing news she had just received, it was the fact I was upset, she immediately apologised to me because I had become upset. She then became more tearful as she thought she may not be around to see her new grandchild arriving in May.

This was a prime example of Mum, always thinking and careering only for others, thinking for herself last. She only became upset when she broke news to family and friends, feeling bad that she had upset them.

Mum wasn’t a materialistic person, items didn’t worry her. She had a very positive attitude towards life and wouldn’t let herself get hung up on things. She was always telling us “there’s nothing you can do about it, so there is no point in worrying about it”. Words I will tell my children. With this statement in mind, Mum insisted that we continued with the fireworks display we had planned for that evening. Mum was cared for in the last few weeks of her life by all of the family. But in particular, Dad was the one who gave Mum all of the support she needed. Running the house, while making her dinner and helping her move to more comfortable positions. Dad has said that it was a privilege to nurse her, she was always positive and more interested in others than herself


While we are all grieving, it is important to remember that Mum would be wanting us all to celebrate her life. Most would say Mum passed away after she lost a brave battle with cancer, but Mum wouldn’t have seen it that she lost. She would have seen it as a victory. A victory that she spent Christmas with us all. A victory that she enjoyed a Bollinger Afternoon Tea at the Goring Hotel in London just a few weeks ago. A victory that she had Dad, her children and her grandchildren.

I am in absolute awe of my mum and the way she dealt with the last few months of her life, but this was only a tiny part of her life and one that should not be prominent in people’s memories of her. I feel it is important that we remember mum for everything that she was. She was a loving wife, a fantastic Mum, an amazing Nanny and by the looks of the amount of people here, a very dear friend.


Mum spent many years nursing. This was something she really enjoyed. As we grew up and would hurt ourselves, we would often run to Mum who would dismiss us quickly and tell us to stop being pathetic. When mum became serious, and said we needed to go and see a doctor, we knew she wasn’t messing about.

Let’s talk about Mum as we were growing up. Mum (and dad) were always very supportive of our choices as we grew up. Mum was our role model, not only in the sense of right and wrong, but also in her playful side.

Mum was very laid back, she loved a joke and especially loved to laugh at her own jokes! Mum loved to play practical jokes too, tickling your feet and pulling off the duvet to wake you up in the morning, or putting an ice cube or cold hands down the back of your neck. In Alexis’ case, Mum hid in in her bedroom for 20 minutes to jump out and scare the life out of her when Alex was going to bed.

This is a reflection on who Mum really was. These were traits that Mum loved to do, including, without fail, sending a text to us all on the 1st of every month, to say pinch punch first of the month!

Her way with her 3 grandchildren was truly lovely, and I hope that even though they are young, they may have memories of their Nanny.

Mum adored her granddaughters, and was over the moon to hear that she would be becoming a Nanny again very soon. Nanny and Gaga’s house is somewhere you get spoilt, you can eat anything you like and open all the cupboards, pull everything out and no one worries! – and that’s just James and I!


A good friend of Maggie’s in Cyprus said to us when we questioned, why does this always happen to the nice people? She responded with, “If you were to walk into a field full of beautiful flowers, you would only pick the best one.”

As you all know, Mum and Dad adopted John and I, they both, with Alexis accepted us as their own, which makes this next statement most fitting for our mum.

“Anybody can become a parent, but it takes someone truly special to be a Mum”.


I have these words that I will take with me, and I hope that some of you will too.

“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost one pours down on us to let us know they are happy.”

There is one more thing I would like to say on behalf of our Dad, Alexis, James and I, to our dear Mum. It’s still before midday Mum, so we are in time… Pinch Punch, First of the month, no returns, full stop.


We love you so much Mum, thank you for everything you have done for us, but mostly, thank you for being you.

Sleep tight Mum, sweet dreams and don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Thank you for caring so well for our beloved Mummy/Maggie/Nanny...

Thank you for caring so well for our beloved Mummy/Maggie/Nanny...

The family (Mark, Alexis, John & James) would like to thank all that sent cards good wishes and donations (to the causes that were close to Maggie's heart). The funeral service was attended by more than a hundred, I know Maggie would have been blown away by the response. I for one found the support of everyone who attended, a great help. Attendees had travelled from all parts of the country and for that the family are extremely grateful, it was lovely to see everyone, perhaps we would have chosen different circumstances, given the chance.
As you can see from the counters, people generously donated to both charities that Maggie had chosen, some directly on the obituary page, some by cheque direct to the charity others by cash which we have split between the two charities. The actual total being well in excess of £2,000.
Thank you one and all.

Mark, Alexis, John and James would like to express their thanks to all the members of Paphos Golfer's Association and ELOPE members who sent cards and good wishes, and made this very generous donation to a cause that was close to Maggies heart. All the cards and good wishes helped.

For the nearly forty years I knew Maggie she was always warm hearted and friendly, but above all, she always showed that mischievous sense of humour and unmistakable laugh. My condolences to Alexis James John and Mark, and my apologies for not being at the funeral.

Over the nearly forty years I knew Maggie she was always kind and warm and friendly but above all she always exhibited that mischievous sense of humour and unmistakable laugh. Alexis James John and Mark please accept my heartfelt condolences and my apology for not being at the funeral. She is now at peace.

Rest in Peace Maggie , Val and Phil x

Thank you for all the fantastic work you do.

My Dearest Friend Maggie
I knew Maggie for about 30 years and counted her as one of my closest dearest friends. I shall miss our get togethers; our chats (always over a lime and soda!), our giggles and her wise words of advice. We shared some great times from her daughter, Alex, being my bridesmaid to ringo riding in Cyprus. We had some great laughs together and I shall treasure those memories. When Maggie moved to Cyprus, we didn't see each other as often but would always meet up when she was back in the UK and carried on as if she had never been away. She had so many qualities; kind, caring, fun, loyal, selfless to name but a few and always more worried about others than herself.
She will live on in her children and grandchildren of whom she was immensely proud. She would speak so warmly of them all when we were together.
I am privileged to have had somebody so special as a friend for all those years. I shall miss her terribly.
RIP Maggie xxxx

In memory of my sister Maggie: thanks for all the care and attention.

Thank-you for being such a wonderful sister. I shall miss you so much, after we have been two sisters together for over 60 years. You were amazing through your illness, maintaining your kindness and thought for other people throughout. Your sunny disposition and thoughtfulness will, however, live on in your children.

Thank you for your devotion and special care for Maggie Watson in her time of need in recent months. Blessings, Mike & Allie Wing and Ms Alicia de Conti.