Sep-05 Issue - The Heraldry Society

Margaret Wood trained first as a librarian
from 1967 to 1969 and gained her
Associateship of the Library Association, Then
as a professional caIligrapher, illuminator and
heraldic artist, on a full-time three year course
at Reigate School of Art and Design from 1977
to 1980, where she gained a First Class
Honours Diploma. In 1976 she was approved
as a tutor by the Inner London Educational
Authority and elected a Fellow of the Society of
Scribes and Illuminators of London in 1977.
She was a member of the Council of the
Society of Heraldic Arts for ten years and
Chairman of the Blackmore Vale Scribes for
seven years. She retired from both Offices
because of pressure of work.
She worked for the Crown Office in the House
of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, initially
as a librarian and then as one of the five
Queen's Scribes from 1978 to 1987, producing
illuminated Letters Patent creating Notaries
Public, Judges, Life Peers, Heralds and Kings
of Arms. She also painted heraldry for several
of the Officers at the College of Arms, including
John Brooke-Little (Richmond Herald and later
Clarenceux King of Arms), Rodney Dennys
(Somerset Herald), and Sir Colin Cole
(Windsor Herald and later Garter Principal King
of Arms.)
She returned as a tutor and visiting lecturer at
Reigate School of Art and Design, now part of
East Surrey College, from 1979 to 1987. She
moved to Somerset in 1987 and established an
enviable reputation as one of the best tutors of
the Craft in the Country. She was much in
demand at Colleges of Adult Education,
Community Education Centres and
Universities as a resident tutor and lecturer.
Her ability as a teacher was extraordinary. She
was able to encourage and inspire everyone
she taught, and was regarded with enormous
affection by all her students and everyone who
met her. She had endless patience and
understanding not only with her students' work
16
MARGARET JEAN WOOD
ALA, SDAD (Hons), FSSI, SHA
but with their problems as individuals. She was
someone whom all felt able to turn to and
confide in. Her work was sensitive and
imaginative and is much prized by everyone
who owns it.
Her commissioned work included the design
and execution of formal documents on vellum
and paper, calligraphy, manuscript painting,
gilding and heraldic design and painting. She
also undertook commissions for Letters Patent,
illuminated addresses and scrolls for the
Armed Services, County and Municipal
Boroughs and the Church. For private
collectors, commissions included manuscript
books, genealogical and armorial family trees
and armorial library paintings.
Her commercial work involved calligraphic
and heraldic design for reproduction,
publishers' book jackets and titling, greetings
cards, book tokens, logo designs and graphics
for television and advertising. Her death will
create a very great loss both to the craft and to
all who knew her. She was married to Anthony
Wood and had a son by her previous marriage.
The Society sends its condolences to
Margaret’s family.
Published by the Heraldry Society, Charity Reg No 24156, Reg Office, 53 High Street, Burnham, Slough, SL1 7JX.
Printed by Masterprint Ltd, London, SE18 5NQ