TRIBUTES have flooded in for popular Kinver community stalwart Margaret Rogers who has died after a short battle with cancer.

Margaret, who grew up in Quarry Bank, had lived in Stourton for more than 40 years and over the decades she helped out with almost every community group in Kinver.

She was chairman of Kinver Parish Council three times and vice-chairman on four occasions and she served as a village councillor for around 20 years before losing her seat in 2015 along with husband Harry who had also been a member since 1991.

In May this year she and Harry both managed to win their seats back on the council - only to be told the devastating news that Margaret had pancreatic cancer shortly afterwards.

But, trying to keep going as usual, the ever-busy grandmother-of-two had continued going to meetings up until just a week prior to her death last Friday (September 6).

She was even trying to get messages sent to people just days before losing her fight for life at the age of 72.

Her daughter Julie Rogers said: "The doctor had told her it was terminal but she'd really been positive right from the very beginning. She'd been going to all the meetings and she went and did the judging at Enville show the other weekend."

Julie, from Wollaston, said: "I'm really proud of what she's always done. She's always found the time for anybody. She knew so many people. There's going to be a big hole left in Kinver."

Over the years Margaret had been involved with many groups and causes in Kinver and Stourton. She had been owner and leader of Peter Pan Pre-School in Bridgnorth Road, Stourton, since the 1980s and was on the management committee of Stourton Village Hall.

She was also involved with Kinver Civic Society, Kinver Community Action, Kinver Allotments group, Kinver Community Bus, Kinver Old People's Welfare which distributes shopping vouchers to the elderly at Christmastime.

She was also a key figure in a big public campaign to prevent jet engines flying in and out of Halfpenny Green Airport some years back and was the driving force behind campaigns to bring a BMX track and skate park to Kinver.

Such was her commitment to community work in Kinver and Stourton, she was honoured with a Points of Light award in 2016 and was personally praised by the then Prime Minister David Cameron - as well as being invited, with husband Harry, to attend a reception at Number 10 Downing Street.

Her lifelong friend Gloria Barnsley, whom she had known since they were at school together at the old Coppice Lane Girls' School in Quarry Bank, also went with them and said: "We had a wonderful time."

She described Margaret as “a very popular lady” and she said: “She was such a big part of the Stourton community.”

Kinver's MP Gavin Williamson, the Government's Education Secretary, also paid tribute and said: “Margaret was the beating heart and soul of the community.

"She was always doing so much both in Stourton and Kinver, always contributing and always giving, always helping the community and she will be so much missed by so many.

“She was a lady with amazing energy that was always giving and always having such a positive impact on so many people’s lives.”

As well as husband Harry and daughter Julie, Margaret leaves a son Stuart and two grandchildren - Conrad and Jayden.

A family funeral service is to be held at Stourbridge Crematorium and a public celebration of her life will be held in Kinver - the date for which will be announced via Wombourne Funeral Services in Kinver.