† MARGARET JEAN WOOD, SHA – Heraldic Artist, Calligrapher, and Illuminator

Margaret trained first as a librarian from 1967 to 1969 and gained her Associateship of the Library Association. Then as a professional calligrapher, illuminator and heraldic artist, on a full-time three year course at Reigate School of Art and Design from 1977 to 1980, where she gained a First Class Honours Diploma. In 1976 she was approved as a tutor by the Inner London Educational Authority and elected a Fellow of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators of London in 1977. She was a member of the Council of the Society of Heraldic Arts for ten years and Chairman of the Blackmore Vale Scribes for seven years. She retired from both Offices because of the pressure of work.

She worked for the Crown Office in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, initially as a librarian and then as one of the five QUEEN’S SCRIBES from 1978 to 1987, producing illuminated Letters Patent creating Notaries Public, Judges, Life Peers, Heralds and Kings of Arms. Furthermore, she also painted heraldry for several of the Officers at the College of Arms, including John Brooke-Little (Richmond Herald), Rodney Dennys (Somerset Herald), and Sir Colin Cole (Windsor Herald and later Garter Principal King of Arms).

She returned as a tutor and visiting lecturer at Reigate School of Art and Design, now part of East Surrey College, from 1979 to 1987. She moved to Somerset in 1987 and established an enviable reputation as one of the best tutors of the Craft in the Country. She was much demand at Colleges of Adult Education, Community Education Centres and Universities as a resident tutor and lecturer. Her ability as a teacher was extraordinary. She was able to encourage and inspire everyone she taught, and was regarded with enormous affection by all her students and everyone who met her. She had endless patience and understanding not only with her students’ work but with their problems as individuals. She was someone who all felt able to turn to and confide in. Her work was sensitive and imaginative and is much prized by everyone who owns it.