Maureen

I went to her house and we sat in her front room in front of a roaring fire and she told me all about her childhood, her early life in Shetland, coming to live in Edinburgh as a wee girl. Her father ran a grocers shop in Leith, she recalled fond memories of spending time with him there, sitting on the counter. And I think there was alot of pride, warmth and laughter. After the devastation of losing her father at a young age, there was such a contrast with how she expressed this bleak time. This had a huge impact on her family and her life. Her mother was largely absent, running the shop and she described herself as a ‘latchkey kid’. Her early life experiences have really driven her, especially in how she is with children, in knowing that they need to feel safe and loved, and the importance of stability. And not just the children, also the families and the community. 

Maureen worked for many years in Craigmillar, in early years education and had a big impact seeking funding for arts projects, the environment and education. She was part of setting up of Books for Babies, of founding the Edinburgh Froebel Network where she organised international conferences, and work with Richmond Hope supporting bereaved children.

So much research into early years education and child development happened in Craigmillar thanks to Maureen and at all points she worked to maintain the community's ownership of this body of work, empowering the people by forging connections with the City Center and The City Chambers. Always ensuring they had a voice.

One of the messages I learned from my talk with Maureen was the importance of what she described as “Giving effectively”. To not blindly give, and to instead engage with the lives and circumstances of others. I feel this may be why the other grass roots organisations I came across while working for this exhibition are so important. Help is not only ineffective but can also even be damaging when it's ill informed and is given without connection and communication, no matter how well intentioned it may be.

At the end of our interview, Maureen revealed, with great embarrassment, that she received an MBE for community service. I know she didn’t feel very comfortable to be celebrated personally and felt that any award should be for the community itself. She was eventually able to see that this was a celebration for the community, and that they very much wanted it for her.

She is magnificent!