Margaret Trett : PA to Sir Adam Thomson
Sadly Margaret passed away on December 21, 2021, after a long illness. She was 89. My Sincere condolences to Margaret’s sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Bob Degenhardt, her family, friends and former colleagues.
Margaret served as Personal Assistant to Sir Adam Thomson throughout his career as Chairman of Caledonian Airways and subsequently British Caledonian.
To the right, Margaret in the middle of the three ladies
Margaret served as Personal Assistant to Sir Adam Thomson throughout his career as Chairman of Caledonian Airways and subsequently British Caledonian.
To the right, Margaret in the middle of the three ladies
Margaret Remembered
From Tony Cocklin
Many dedicated people played key, pivotal roles in the development of BCAL, but probably none for quite as long as Margaret Trett.
It was in 1964 that Margaret, then senior secretary with Caledonian Airways, became appointed Personal Assistant to the airline’s co-founder and newly-appointed Chairman, Adam Thomson.
Margaret had joined Caledonian at its original Horley offices as a ‘stop-gap’ job after returning from working in France.
Some ‘stop-gap:’ Margaret went on to work as PA to Sir Adam and become his professional confidante over his entire career with Caledonian, BCAL and beyond.
She was at the centre of every major development - notably the creation of BCAL through the bringing together of Caledonian and British United Airways to form Britain’s ‘Second Force’ airline. With Sir Adam, Margaret travelled extensively and became widely known across the entire BCAL network. She was respected for her professionalism and supportive friendship at every level.
It was sad for so many of Margaret’s BCAL friends and former colleagues that illness caused her to spend latter years in nursing home care. Margaret Trett was truly a pillar of the BCAL community and will be remembered with much affection.
From Bob Millichap
What very sad news. Margaret was a truly iconic participant in the Caledonian/BCAL story as one of the few people with a key central role all the way through from the airline’s tentative beginnings in the 1960s. It was a great privilege to have known her both at work as a colleague of the utmost professionalism and in retirement as a friend whose kindness and generosity of spirit knew no bounds. RIP Margaret.
From Caron Phillips: RIP and my sincere condolences to her family and friends
From Geoff Johnston
RIP Margaret, you did a fantastic job supporting such a great man building the best airline in the world. Fly High with all of the other BCal angels.
From Steve Taylor: A great friend of the GLCT as Sir Adam’s PA. RIP Margaret
From Roger Warren: RIP Margaret
From Jim Will: RIP Margaret.
From Geoffrey Lewis: Fly High, Margaret R.I.P
From David Williams
So sorry to hear this. She was a wonderful lady and was always supportive and a calming effect when I had to see the Boss. RIP Margaret
From Gerri Higgins: So sorry xx
From Tricia Riley: So sad to hear. Margaret was such a large part of our BCal family. RIP
From Pat Cresswell: So sad.
From Marion Clamp
So sad to hear this news. Margaret was a great lady -- a support, efficiency and sense of serenity behind the great man. RIP Margaret
From Christina Selmes: R.I.P. Margaret
From Sally Simmonds: Very sorry to hear. RIP Margaret.
From Ma Dolors Vila Casellas: Sincere condolences to her family and friends...May you RIP Margaret.
From Alan Reeves: RIP, a legend
From Betty Wells: RIP Margaret, condolences to her family.
From Biddi Geoghegan: A lovely lady, a character. May she R.I.P
From Beryl Mason: Lovely lady, may she Rest in Peace, my condolences to her family.
From Kerry Coles: R.I.P. Margaret
From Riaz Butt: Sad news. RIP Margaret, my prayers and thoughts for her and family.
From Sally Ann Beischer
After leaving BCAL Margaret and I became great friends and used to have lunch regularly until she went into the Nursing Home. RIP Margaret.
From Marie Hogbin: So sorry.
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free Margaret
From Brian Wassell: R.I.P. Margaret duty done
From Charles Powell
To all who knew her Margaret's death will have come with especial sadness. I worked very closely with her for two years in the mid 1980's and my memories of her were that she was always smart, always charming, always filled with humour and goodwill, always trusted completely, always gracious, always loyal to every one of her colleagues and the company. She was indeed very close to all the great events and the people that were the history of Caledonian and BCAL. Those people of course include those outside the company with whom Adam had to deal: presidents of several countries, government ministers in many countries, bankers, civic leaders, industry leaders, trade union leaders, regulators, and the hundreds of others upon whom BCAL depended in order to thrive in a turbulent world. To everyone of them she offered that mixture of warmth and grace that so well reflected the image of BCAL itself. She will be remembered in that same spirit by them all.
From David Cooper
Very sad to hear of Margaret’s passing. My Wife & I knew her quite well with her visits with Sir Adam to Liberia on a few occasions and to Italy for the inauguration of our Milan route. She was always calm & ready to suggest, advise & assist with political meetings with Presidents, Ministers, politicians & social occasions with Business leaders. A lovely person. RIP Margaret.
From Jeff Youtan: RIP Margaret
From Dick Holder
Margaret was a stalwart of the Company and of Adam Thomson. She was always so pleasant to us all, a really gracious lady who had the greatest of respect from us all. I was honoured to know and work with her. RIP Margaret, no doubt now looking after Sir Adam in the afterlife.
From Neil Morrison
So very sorry to learn of Margaret's passing. I remember Margret from Horley days and also from my time at Sussex house. At that time we were a very small team and crises were frequent. Margret was always there just a step behind Sir Adam with an air of Calm control and composure. So very sorry that her latter years were plagued by poor health. from Neil Morrison - Ex Crewing and Flight Operations.
From Cheryl Carey (née Grant)
My sincere condolences. RIP Margaret. Knew her from Sussex House and 7th floor at Caledonian House in the early to mid 80s. She helped me out on several occasions. Most notably on the run up to my wedding day, when I embarrassed myself by bursting into tears because the pressure was too much. Lovely lady, and as all have said, was quick to sort all the problems out swiftly. Hopefully flying with the angels now RIP. From Cheryl Carey (née Grant) Legal Secretariat
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Marion Clamp, John Morgan, Malcolm McCluskey, Robert Spearman, Sue Jackson-Page, Mike Petrie, Elaine Brown, Sheila Williams Tyson, Liz Tiley, Jenny Thomas, Dave Surry, Janet Willis, Nick Ridley, Peter Durran, Andrew Rusack, Jan Wickens, Iris Tamburri, Christine Jegu, Betty Wells, Debee Boerner, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Kris Massie, Brian Graham, Michael Selmes, Tricia Riley, Linda Trettin, Paul Marshall, Caron Phillips, Tina Harvey, Lindsay Smith,
Close this page
.
From Tony Cocklin
Many dedicated people played key, pivotal roles in the development of BCAL, but probably none for quite as long as Margaret Trett.
It was in 1964 that Margaret, then senior secretary with Caledonian Airways, became appointed Personal Assistant to the airline’s co-founder and newly-appointed Chairman, Adam Thomson.
Margaret had joined Caledonian at its original Horley offices as a ‘stop-gap’ job after returning from working in France.
Some ‘stop-gap:’ Margaret went on to work as PA to Sir Adam and become his professional confidante over his entire career with Caledonian, BCAL and beyond.
She was at the centre of every major development - notably the creation of BCAL through the bringing together of Caledonian and British United Airways to form Britain’s ‘Second Force’ airline. With Sir Adam, Margaret travelled extensively and became widely known across the entire BCAL network. She was respected for her professionalism and supportive friendship at every level.
It was sad for so many of Margaret’s BCAL friends and former colleagues that illness caused her to spend latter years in nursing home care. Margaret Trett was truly a pillar of the BCAL community and will be remembered with much affection.
From Bob Millichap
What very sad news. Margaret was a truly iconic participant in the Caledonian/BCAL story as one of the few people with a key central role all the way through from the airline’s tentative beginnings in the 1960s. It was a great privilege to have known her both at work as a colleague of the utmost professionalism and in retirement as a friend whose kindness and generosity of spirit knew no bounds. RIP Margaret.
From Caron Phillips: RIP and my sincere condolences to her family and friends
From Geoff Johnston
RIP Margaret, you did a fantastic job supporting such a great man building the best airline in the world. Fly High with all of the other BCal angels.
From Steve Taylor: A great friend of the GLCT as Sir Adam’s PA. RIP Margaret
From Roger Warren: RIP Margaret
From Jim Will: RIP Margaret.
From Geoffrey Lewis: Fly High, Margaret R.I.P
From David Williams
So sorry to hear this. She was a wonderful lady and was always supportive and a calming effect when I had to see the Boss. RIP Margaret
From Gerri Higgins: So sorry xx
From Tricia Riley: So sad to hear. Margaret was such a large part of our BCal family. RIP
From Pat Cresswell: So sad.
From Marion Clamp
So sad to hear this news. Margaret was a great lady -- a support, efficiency and sense of serenity behind the great man. RIP Margaret
From Christina Selmes: R.I.P. Margaret
From Sally Simmonds: Very sorry to hear. RIP Margaret.
From Ma Dolors Vila Casellas: Sincere condolences to her family and friends...May you RIP Margaret.
From Alan Reeves: RIP, a legend
From Betty Wells: RIP Margaret, condolences to her family.
From Biddi Geoghegan: A lovely lady, a character. May she R.I.P
From Beryl Mason: Lovely lady, may she Rest in Peace, my condolences to her family.
From Kerry Coles: R.I.P. Margaret
From Riaz Butt: Sad news. RIP Margaret, my prayers and thoughts for her and family.
From Sally Ann Beischer
After leaving BCAL Margaret and I became great friends and used to have lunch regularly until she went into the Nursing Home. RIP Margaret.
From Marie Hogbin: So sorry.
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free Margaret
From Brian Wassell: R.I.P. Margaret duty done
From Charles Powell
To all who knew her Margaret's death will have come with especial sadness. I worked very closely with her for two years in the mid 1980's and my memories of her were that she was always smart, always charming, always filled with humour and goodwill, always trusted completely, always gracious, always loyal to every one of her colleagues and the company. She was indeed very close to all the great events and the people that were the history of Caledonian and BCAL. Those people of course include those outside the company with whom Adam had to deal: presidents of several countries, government ministers in many countries, bankers, civic leaders, industry leaders, trade union leaders, regulators, and the hundreds of others upon whom BCAL depended in order to thrive in a turbulent world. To everyone of them she offered that mixture of warmth and grace that so well reflected the image of BCAL itself. She will be remembered in that same spirit by them all.
From David Cooper
Very sad to hear of Margaret’s passing. My Wife & I knew her quite well with her visits with Sir Adam to Liberia on a few occasions and to Italy for the inauguration of our Milan route. She was always calm & ready to suggest, advise & assist with political meetings with Presidents, Ministers, politicians & social occasions with Business leaders. A lovely person. RIP Margaret.
From Jeff Youtan: RIP Margaret
From Dick Holder
Margaret was a stalwart of the Company and of Adam Thomson. She was always so pleasant to us all, a really gracious lady who had the greatest of respect from us all. I was honoured to know and work with her. RIP Margaret, no doubt now looking after Sir Adam in the afterlife.
From Neil Morrison
So very sorry to learn of Margaret's passing. I remember Margret from Horley days and also from my time at Sussex house. At that time we were a very small team and crises were frequent. Margret was always there just a step behind Sir Adam with an air of Calm control and composure. So very sorry that her latter years were plagued by poor health. from Neil Morrison - Ex Crewing and Flight Operations.
From Cheryl Carey (née Grant)
My sincere condolences. RIP Margaret. Knew her from Sussex House and 7th floor at Caledonian House in the early to mid 80s. She helped me out on several occasions. Most notably on the run up to my wedding day, when I embarrassed myself by bursting into tears because the pressure was too much. Lovely lady, and as all have said, was quick to sort all the problems out swiftly. Hopefully flying with the angels now RIP. From Cheryl Carey (née Grant) Legal Secretariat
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Marion Clamp, John Morgan, Malcolm McCluskey, Robert Spearman, Sue Jackson-Page, Mike Petrie, Elaine Brown, Sheila Williams Tyson, Liz Tiley, Jenny Thomas, Dave Surry, Janet Willis, Nick Ridley, Peter Durran, Andrew Rusack, Jan Wickens, Iris Tamburri, Christine Jegu, Betty Wells, Debee Boerner, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Kris Massie, Brian Graham, Michael Selmes, Tricia Riley, Linda Trettin, Paul Marshall, Caron Phillips, Tina Harvey, Lindsay Smith,
Close this page
.
Service details
A private family funeral will take place at Surrey & Sussex Crematorium on 7th January 2022.
The family have requested no flowers.
If wished, however, donations can be made to Margaret's church, St Leonard's at Turners Hill, c/o Ballard & Shortall Funeral Directors, 10 Haslett Avenue West, Crawley, RH10 1HS.
A private family funeral will take place at Surrey & Sussex Crematorium on 7th January 2022.
The family have requested no flowers.
If wished, however, donations can be made to Margaret's church, St Leonard's at Turners Hill, c/o Ballard & Shortall Funeral Directors, 10 Haslett Avenue West, Crawley, RH10 1HS.
