Margaret Donaldson, known to many as Maggie, died from
cancer on Friday 3
rd August 2012 at Marie Curie, Stobhill, Glasgow
aged 60.
Maggie did as much as anyone, and more than
most, to establish community psychology in Scotland. Maggie graduated from
Glasgow University, together with her fellow undergraduate, Mark Wilson, in 1978.
Their studies had included some attention to Michael Bender’s book “Community
Psychology” (1976).
This little book and
the discussions to which it led, was a huge influence on Maggie and years later
Maggie became, one of the first people to be employed by the NHS in Scotland as
a community psychologist. In the late 1980s Maggie and Mark were driving forces
behind regular meetings convened at the Easterhouse Child-Centred Project by
Mark and also attended by Ali Chalmers, Rachel Morley, Bernard Chisholm,
Carolyn Brown and David Fryer. This group discussed the relevance of community
psychology to Scotland and led eventually to the setting up at Stirling
University of the first University course in Scotland in community psychology,
coordinated by David Fryer. Maggie was a huge supporter through thick and thin
of that course, contributing to the teaching of many hundreds of its students. Maggie
was also a key member of the group which arranged the “Community Psychology for
a Change” workshops in Glasgow in 1995. Maggie was convinced of the synergy
between community psychology and the work of J. M. Miller Mair, particularly
Miller’s work on the community of selves and she brokered a series of meetings
between community psychologists and Miller and colleagues, first in Dumfries
and Galloway and then in Glasgow at the Kinharvie Centre. Maggie will however
probably be best remembered by most for her countless acts of bravery and
kindness for anyone struggling against oppression. She has been a most warm and
charismatic friend, remembered with great fondness. May she rest in peace.
