Margaret Barbour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Margaret Barbour, DBE (b. 1940) is a British businesswoman and philanthropist who established the Nancy Barbour Fund, which she presented in 2004 to the Women Inspiring Women group. The Nancy Barbour Fund is an award scheme within the Women's Fund that recognizes organisations helping women to play a more active part in the community, particularly those that work with women with a disability.
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[edit] Business Background
A teacher originally, she is credited as "[having] reinvented the waterproof wax clothes firm, J. Barbour & Sons". She turned the company's rustic clothes - initially designed for seamen, river workers, motorcyclists and the British Royal Navy's submarine soldiers - into "a fashion accessory for the 1980s urban Sloan Rangers and the British upper-class country set."
She then turned the rural brand into an international urban fashion icon in the 29 countries where it is represented through the company's local offices and network of retailers.
[edit] Quotes
"This [honour] is not just for me, but for the company; everybody in my hardworking force in the North East of England." (Margaret Barbour on her knighthood)
[edit] Honours
In addition to the CBE and the DBE, Margaret Barbour is already a Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, an honorary doctor of business administration as awarded by the University of Sunderland, as well as an honorary doctor of civil law as awarded by the University of Newcastle.
She is also the president of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, the chairman of J Barbour and Sons and the chairman of the Barbour Charitable Trust, founded in 1988.
[edit] Re-marriage
A widow since 1968 with one daughter, Helen Barbour, Margaret Barbour married David Ash in 1991, but is still known as Mrs. Barbour in business.
