Photo left to right: North Eden House residents Jessie Wallace, Betty Harper, Mary Thomson, Lorimar Allen and Douglas Bader Community Garden fundraiser Margaret Colliar.

Local Woman Who Met Sir Douglas Raises Cash Towards DBCG

A woman who met late flying ace Douglas Bader during a visit to north-east Fife has turned fundraiser for the organisation seeking to build a new garden in Cupar to be named after the WW2 hero. Margaret Colliar, a resident of the town's North Eden House care home, raffled hanging baskets to raise cash for the Douglas Bader Community Garden project.

Enterprising Margaret, who uses a wheelchair, sold tickets to staff, residents and visitors in a bid to boost the coffers of the community organisation which is planning a multi-million pound development in the town's Duffus Park .

The pensioner, whose late husband William was farm manager at Daftmill Farm, met Sir Douglas in the 1950s when he was visiting jute baron Sir William Walker at Pitlair House in the Bow of Fife.

Margaret recalled: "I was a keen baker and had baked a cake for Sir William which Sir Douglas had apparently tasted. I was introduced to him while he was taking a look round the Pitlair grounds, and he complimented me on my baking.

"It was a huge thrill for me because Sir Douglas was a legendary figure and everybody knew about how he had flown so bravely during the war even though he had lost his legs."

Margaret, who donated £65 towards to the Douglas Bader Community Garden project, was praised by the group's Project Manager Andrew Gold.

Mr Gold said: "Margaret's efforts have been outstanding, and are typical of the many local people who have overwhelmingly supported our organisation since we began two years ago."

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