Margaret Miller, 1936 – 2024

Past Master Margaret Miller passed away on the 7th February 2024 at Manorlands Hospice.

Margaret’s career in the furniture industry started in 1959 when she joined Knightsbridge Furniture as a personal assistant.

At the time Knightsbridge was a supplier to the retail trade. A chance order by a local hospital for some of its chairs propelled the business to establish a contracts division. Margaret was put in charge of developing this exciting new area for the company. She welcomed the challenge.

Under Margaret’s direction, Knightsbridge’s contract division took off to such a degree that the company would later decide to focus solely on its contract business. Over the 50 years she worked at the company she held the positions of sales director, managing director and chairman.

Margaret’s contributions to the Furniture Makers are incalculable. Joining as a freeman in 1981, she was admitted as one of our first female liverymen in 1985 and was installed as the first female Master in 2008.

She was as active a member as one could be, attending as many events as she could and volunteering countless hours through committee work. She always had a keen interest in furniture design and in encouraging young talent, particularly through hosting the Furniture Makers’ student industrial tours.

She played a decisive role in the acquisition of Furniture Makers’ Hall by leading a passionate and successful fundraising campaign to raise money for the purchase. She then served as a director of the company set up to manage the hall for nearly 15 years.

Past Master David Burbidge CBE DL, who was Master at the time, reflects: “She did an amazing job with her irresistible charm and determination, and her success enabled us to proceed with the purchase.”

Besides being instrumental in raising considerable sums of money for our livery, Margaret spent over 20 years as a co-founder and trustee of Bradford’s War on Cancer which raised millions for Cancer UK.

A strong supporter of the livery movement, Margaret was also an honorary member of Court of the Woolmen.

Margaret was a former director of Commercial Interiors UK (formerly the British Contracts Furnishing Association) and a former board member of the Furniture Industry Research Association. Her contributions to the industry were recognised by Commercial Interiors UK and the Furniture Makers, receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards from both in 2014 and 2017.

Margaret will be fondly remembered and sadly missed. She is survived by her partner, Brian Kay, who was by her side when she passed.

In accordance with her wishes there will be no memorial service, she would like her friends to remember her in their own particular way.

Donations in memory of Margaret would be appreciated and should be made by cheque to:

Sue Ryder, Manorlands Hospice, Keighley Road, Oxenhope BD22 9HJ

or online at margaret-mary-miller.muchloved.com