Tributes paid to Scots store owner who was trade body’s first female national president
SENIOR members of the Fed have been paying tribute to its first-ever female national president, Margaret Adams, following news of her passing.
Margaret and her husband, David, owned a store in Largs, Ayrshire, for many years and joined what was then the NFRN in 1989. Margaret became a stalwart of the federation in the Scotland district and nationally, becoming national president in 2000/01.
Current national president and Blantyre retailer Mo Razzaq, who is also a former district president for Scotland, said: “Margaret Adams was a pioneer for women in convenience. She was not just hard working – her dedication was unparalleled.
“The Scottish district will remember her as a local legend who helped put the Fed on the business map. On a personal level, Margaret has been an inspiration for me, who was both helpful in her advice and also with her knowledge of the federation.”
A fiercely proud Scot, Margaret had been posting pictures of her local Oban Pipe Band, which had just retained its World Championship title, just days before she died.
Longstanding Fed member Peter Wagg, who owns stores in London, recalled first meeting Margaret and David 30 years ago as fellow members of the NFRN national council.
He said: “It was obvious that Margaret was destined to become the first female NFRN national president – she was highly respected, had a commanding no-nonsense presence, and she could definitely hold her own in meetings, where she was often the only female councillor present.
“When she was national vice-president in 1999, Margaret asked me to join her and the then president Alan Dryden to become the founding directors of the NFRN Mutual Ltd, now The Retail Mutual.”
The Fed said its thoughts and sincere condolences were with Margaret’s husband David, son Scott and daughter-in-law Kelly.
