An amazing lady from Mumbles has been praised by the community for her tireless fundraising efforts over more than 65 years! Margaret 'Maggie' Thrush, 81, is renowned locally for dressing in a Welsh top and a sombrero and rattling a charity collection bucket at passers-by and customers in pubs and restaurants in the town every week.
Whilst she might only collect a pound or two, or even less some time, from most people who donate, overall Margaret has raised more than £1.5million from shaking her charity bucket at as many people as possible. When her bucket is full, she takes the money to her local bank to be transferred to charity.
In recent years, she's been raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support Charity - and at the last count, on Thursday, May 11, she had raised £380,440.05 for the cause - as well as hundreds of thousands for other UK and Welsh charities over the years.
Margaret was presented with an MBE back in 2006 for raising more than £1million for charities and recently received a prestigious community award from the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, Stephen H Rogers JP. And, just last week, she lit the beacon at Oystermouth Castle to mark the King's Coronation. You can get the biggest Swansea news stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
Margaret first started raising funds for charity when she was just 15 and over the years has raised thousands of pounds for a wide range of important causes including Macmillan, Mumbles RNLI, the NSPCC and the former Longfields day centre in Swansea for people with disabilities. Her friend and supporter Liz Perman explained that Margaret chose to focus on supporting Macmillan in recent years after her mother and aunt were diagnosed with cancer.
"Margaret used to fundraise every single night, she's raised thousands of pounds for lots of charities over the years, including the NSPCC, Longfields, Mumbles RNLI and Children in Need," Liz added. "She's incredible, she's out collecting on her own - there's nobody else involved.
"She goes around with a bucket and she has done since she was 15, she used to go around every day. But now she's 81, she goes around a few times a week - and every week she sees the same people in the pubs!"
Margaret has learning difficulties and sadly sometimes receives abuse from people who don't realise she faces some challenges in her everyday life - and don't believe she is really raising so much for charities. But, fortunately, her neighbours and the wider community keep an eye out for her and are very protective of her.
"She gets abuse from some people who just presume she's raising money for herself, but it's a sealed bucket and she banks every single penny she gets [and it's transferred to the charity]! She's as honest as the day," Liz said. "She's quite remarkable really and she's very much appreciated by the people in the village who have known her a long time, some for all of their lives."
Neighbour and community volunteer, Julie Eleanor, added: "Margaret is an incredible, indomitable lady who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities. Beyond the razzmatazz of her public fundraising persona I’ve known her to be the kindest most dedicated lover of local initiatives and dedicated animal lover.
"Seeing her through day upon day, attending to her beloved ponies pushing her bicycle come rain or shine to attend to them in local mud-ridden fields before donning her football kit and sombrero to walk amongst the pubs of Mumbles with her collection bucket; raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities - whatever the weather, whatever the cause. Hats off to you, Margaret, you are a total legend, with a heart of gold and life lessons for us all!"
Chair of the culture, tourism and communications committee on Mumbles Community Council, Rob Marshall, added: "Margaret has dedicated her whole life to raising money for charities and local causes, and since losing her mum and her aunt she's dedicated her time to raising for Macmillan. She's fantastic in the community, everybody knows her and loves her and she's wonderful with animals who adore her and she dotes on her horses down the farm.
"Bonnie Tyler really respects her as well, they're both MBEs, she thinks what she does for charity is excellent. Margaret is a true village legend! I'd love to have a statue of her in the village with a collection box so her legacy can continue," he added. "I'd really love to see that happen!"
Trustee of Friends of Oystermouth Castle, Michael Eames added: "I first met Margaret playing darts when I was 17, she was a a little older, she was some darts player that would take no notice of men in a male dominated sport in those days and would use any means at her disposal to ensure victory!
"In the past Oystermouth Castle has had Princess Anne, the Mayor and the fabulous Bonnie Tyler to light the beacon, this year we could think of nobody more deserving than Margaret who has done so much excellent fundraising for so many good causes in Wales and is Mumbles embodied in her spirit and soul!
"She whispered to me that lighting the beacon was something she would never forget as she was so thrilled doing that in her home town, when I asked how it compared with meeting the now King Charles she said just as good, with a wink and a smile!"
In a statement earlier this year, Macmillan's relationship fundraising manager Sue Reece praised Margaret and congratulated her for receiving an award from the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, saying: "We're very proud of Margaret, and really pleased that she is receiving this award in recognition of her fundraising.
“Over the last 16 years Margaret has focused on raising money solely for Macmillan, and it is her determination and drive that raises funds that helps Macmillan to provide vital support for people living with cancer."
If there's someone incredible in your community in Wales that you think deserves to be praised, email senior reporter Molly Dowrick: molly.dowrick@walesonline.co.uk with the subject line 'Incredible person in the community'
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