Maggi Howell MBE

Maggi was born in 1940 as Britain battled for survival in WW2.

Her father’s family were travelling showman. Her mother’s family were lower middle-class British. No sooner were they married than he was swept off to serve his country.

One of Maggi’s most vivid early memories is of watching aerial dog fights over the Thames. Following demobilisation the family settled in North Benfleet, Essex. Their living conditions were primitive, even by the standards of the day. There was no electricity, roads were unmade and forever muddy. With no mains connection, water came from a well.

Maggi received an educational scholarship and determined to follow her dreams of an arts career. But circumstances forced her into employment. She married four years later.

Maggi supported women’s interests within the Traveller community. In 1976 Maggi moved to Westcliff on Sea. She volunteered for the newly opened refuge for ‘Battered Wives.’ She was awarded the MBE in recognition of her work in 1994.

Maggi found time to breed and show bulldogs, winning Best of Breed at Crufts.

Health challenges caused her to rely on her orange mobility scooter. Her reckless adventures on which form the basis of her first novel — Margaret and Tracy Go to Sea.