A 69 years old Grandmother from Aycliffe has completed a tandem Sky Dive at Teesside Airport for charity. Margaret Blackburn who four years ago had a hip replacement raised £130 towards converting a room for her daughter’s friend who has MS and £300 towards sending disabled students at Middlesbrough College to an outward bound centre in Keilder Forest.
Margaret lives at School Aycliffe and moved here four years ago to be near her son. She still works four days a week teaching at Middlesbrough College and is Treasurer of Great Aycliffe Indoor Bowls Club.
Margaret was brought up on a farm near Bedale and lived in the area all her life. She taught at Westlands School for children with learning and behaviour difficulties in Thornaby for over 20 years and after retiring at 60 got bored and went to work part time at Middlesbrough College teaching IT, English and Maths, working with students who have a wide variety of learning needs.
Last year she spent two months travelling solo around Australia with a rucksack and a pensioner’s bus pass. She spent her last birthday at the Swedish Ice Hotel with Grandson Leon (11) under the Northern Lights.
Margaret is a bit of an adventurer and her hip operation gave her a chance to continue living a very active life. She only just recently sold her motor bike!
