Tribute to Margaret Nicholas

13 April 1940 to 11 June 2022  

Margaret Bedwell was born in Upper Norwood, the first child of Herbert and Doris Bedwell, and in due course was joined by a sister, Anne. 

From the local primary school, she went as a Croydon scholar to JAGS, and from there to St. Hugh’s College, Oxford to read mathematics.  She came down from Oxford in 1962, when the computer industry was in its infancy.  Her first job was on “Leo”, the first commercial computer in Britain, built by the Lyons, the tea shop company, to handle the accounts.  By 1967 Margaret was working at the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), attempting to match ticket sales to seats on their aircraft.

She married David Nicholas in 1968 and settled in Beckenham, where she had two children, Alison and Jonathan and later moved to Keston in Kent. 

Once in Keston she became the technical editor of the Journal of the London Mathematical Society, a post she held for several years.  She was an active member of the local church, serving as treasurer of the P.C.C.  Away from the church, she served as a governor of two local schools and volunteered for many years at Oxfam.

In later years, she enjoyed travelling, including trips to Greece, Italy and Kenya, where Jonathan settled for some years.  It also brought her the pleasure of being a grandmother and seeing the eldest to their points of independence. 

Margaret’s final years were increasingly difficult, and the family is grateful for the many friends who gave her support and comfort.  David Nicholas