Margaret lived in London for many years before moving to Canada and the USA. After a long career in the UK for Unilever and later in advertising and promotions for a number of Aviation and Food Industry clients, she spent time in the US working for the American Ambassador to the Court of St James.

Retirement eventually brought her back to England and the County of Sussex where Buxted has become her home of choice. She shares her life with a one-eyed Shih Tzu called Lizzie - known by some as Patch!

Martin grew up in Marlpit Hill, Kent. Following graduation he moved to Cheshire to join the family firm which specialises in supplying international schools. Martin is a passionate real tennis and racquets player and lives with his wife Sarah, a keen gardener, having moved back to the area in 2021.

John and his wife moved to Buxted in June 2004, having lived in the village of Lindfield for the previous 28 years. After initially attending a number of local churches, he soon settled on St Margaret’s Church, having been impressed with the friendly and welcoming manner of the congregation members there.

He retired from his career as a solicitor in London practice in 2005, and then became more actively involved in volunteering at the church in various capacities including as a sidesman, lesson reader, Minister of Lay Communion and now assisting the Rector and Church Wardens as the Deputy Church Warden. He is also a member of the Church Council and the full P.C.C. and is one of the Trustees of the Friends of St Margaret the Queen, the Charity concerned with the fabric of the church and the churchyard.

When time (and the weather permits) he and his wife are keen walkers on the Ashdown Forest, and enjoy visiting all the National Trust properties in both East and West Sussex and adjoining counties.

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Janet was born in Cheshire. She was brought up as a member of the Baptist faith but since living in East Sussex has happily become involved with St Mark’s church where she is a deputy church warden. She is also a member of the Parochial Church Council.

After studying voice and piano at the Royal Manchester College of Music her life changed direction completely when she joined a regional theatre company. For several years, she worked in repertory theatres in the north of England and Scotland as a stage manager/actor/director.

Eventually after working with theatre-in-education in the northeast of England and then with Polka Children’s Theatre in London as an actor and associate director, she formed her own small touring company for children, working with actors, masks, and puppets. This toured successfully around Britain for 20 years, eventually coming to rest in Hadlow Down where she made her home.

Sue moved to Buxted from Ridgewood in 2019, having already been involved with St Mark's school and church as a volunteer for a monthly service at a local care home, where she signed the service in BSL for the residents. She joined the congregation of St Marks church and very soon became a DCW.

Since retiring early in 2012, Sue has become involved with the community as a volunteer, something that increased during lockdown when, together with the landlord of The Buxted Inn, she shopped for the villages.

At present Sue is a volunteer 3 days a week at St Marks School. Sue enjoys helping others, more so since she had successful brain surgery in 1991 - as prior to this she was the person that needed help. Being a volunteer and DCW has helped Sue give back to the community.

Lorna retired from teaching in 2010, having worked in schools here in England as well as overseas in Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

She originally settled in Whitstable, where she was President of the local WI, before moving to Buxted in 2022 to be close to her grandchildren.

She joined St Mary’s where she began playing the piano for Mass and became Deputy Church Warden at St Mary’s in February 2024.