Obituary: Margaret Ross, children's campaigner, 58

Margaret Ross, the founder member of the Edinburgh Childcare Action Group and children's campaigner, has died, aged 58.

Mrs Ross, of West Pilton, started out as a nurse but switched to childminding after the birth of her daughter, and campaigned tirelessly for the foundation of a purpose-built childcare centre in North Edinburgh.

Born in the Old Town, her family moved to Pilton when she was very young. She attended a local primary school before going on to Ainslie Park High.

After school she went to Glasgow to study nursing at the city's Southern General Hospital, before transferring to Edinburgh's Western General where she worked until the birth of her daughter Carrie in May 1980.

Carrie said: "She wanted to bring me up herself so she switched to childminding, and did all of the courses she needed to become a qualified childminder.

"She wasn't only my mum, she was my best friend and a friend to many people. She is a great loss and she will be sadly missed."

Mrs Ross worked as a childminder for the city's Social Work Department and as a worker in North Edinburgh Childcare, before going on to found the Childcare Action Group.

Former colleague Lynne McCabe said: "She played a key role in the campaign for a purpose-built childcare centre for North Edinburgh.

"Margaret was also instrumental in developing the childcare training programme, which the group developed to meet the needs of local childcare workers.

"Over 60 local women benefited from this initiative. A small group, including Margaret, completed an ONC through this alternative route and then went on to complete an HNC by attending twilight classes at Telford."

Ms McCabe added: "When the Childcare Centre opened its doors nearly seven years after the Childcare Action Group began, Margaret was appointed as one of the newly qualified workers - a position she thoroughly deserved.

"She worked in the centre for a number of years where she was highly regarded as a friend and a colleague. She later became an assessor in the centre, a position which enabled her to provide support to other people hoping to develop a career working with children.

"It was a privilege and a joy to work with Margaret. She was a great asset to the Childcare Action Group - knowledgeable, committed, dependable and above all great fun. It's hard for me to imagine the Childcare Action Group without her."

Betty McVay, of the Childcare Training Team, echoed Ms McCabe's sentiments on behalf of the board and fellow founders of the Childcare Centre.

She said: "Margaret was a committed activist and her actions are an inspiration to others. She enjoyed sharing the knowledge she accumulated over the years and was always keen to support and encourage others. We remember her fondly with many happy memories. She will be sadly missed."

In her latter years Ms Ross moved out of Pilton to Fife. She died on August 7 after a long battle with breast cancer.