Thank you, Margaret! Celebrating 28 years of dedication

After more than 28 years of service, Margaret Schwartz has retired from Breakspear Medical & we feel that the clinic will not be the same without her.

Margaret joined Breakspear in May 1998, drawn in by a job advertisement that, in her words, “looked really interesting.” At the time, the practice was based on Belswains Lane, Nash Mills, and the Medical Secretary Department was just Margaret and Corrina Davis (PA to Dr Jean Monro). Corrina took Margaret under her wing, teaching her everything from booking international flights to organising conferences, typing letters, and easing patients’ worries.  It was the start of a career built on care, accuracy, and warmth.

Watching the practice grow

Margaret was present for most of Breakspear’s story. In 1999, the clinic moved from Belswains Lane to Lord Alexander House in downtown Hemel Hempstead and grew further with the arrival of Dr Christopher Heard. In 2002, the clinic settled into its current home at Hertfordshire House, and Dr Christabelle Yeoh joined the Clinical Team.

Along the way, she found a kindred spirit in librarian Ann Yarr (retired 2017), who taught her to reference academic papers and always went “above and beyond to research information for patients.”

Asked what she’s most proud of, Margaret said, “I hope I have always done my best to help patients and that I did as much as I could to ensure everything ran smoothly for the doctors.”

The people behind the paperwork

Anyone who worked alongside Margaret will tell you her real gift was with people. Many patients attended regularly, and over the years she got to know them and their families.  Patients were never just names on a schedule.

Before retiring, she was able to say cherished goodbyes to many patients in person and said, “I will never forget their kind words.” She feels genuinely privileged that some patients have asked to stay in touch with her personally.

Life beyond the desk

Fortunately, 28 years wasn’t all dictation, letters, and conference planning, and there was plenty of laughter along the way, too. Margaret lit up remembering Christmas at Breakspear Medical one year, which was spent trying to “look like a reindeer” and recalled a mischievous (un-named) doctor who used to hide and jump out just to make the secretaries scream. For the last six years, Margaret enjoyed working alongside Dr Daud Mohamed. She describes him as very kind and said that they had such good laughs together.  Their morning meetings often began with discussing the day’s patients and cases, before drifting easily into football, world events, and life in general.

When asked what she’ll miss most, the honest answer was “nearly everything.”  The quiet satisfaction of helping an anxious or unwell patient, even in a two-minute phone call, the friendships, teamwork, and shared humour with colleagues who became genuine friends and the trust built with doctors and clinical staff over years of working side by side.  She feels that she’ll miss just the rhythm of the working day itself, solving problems, organising appointments, keeping the whole thing gently ticking along.

What’s next

Margaret admits this new chapter of her life feels strange after so many years in the same role. However, she’s looking forward to spending more time with her retired husband, friends, and family, and in a few years, moving closer to her son and daughter in the South West.

From Margaret & to Margaret

Before she left, Margaret shared a few words from the heart. To the patients who shaped so much of her career, “I wish all the patients the very best with their treatment and their journey to hopefully recovering good health.” And to the colleagues who became her second family, “I wish the team at Breakspear all the very best for the future. The work they do is amazing, and they are very focused on helping and treating each patient as an individual.”

Margaret, from all of us at Breakspear Medical, thank you!  For 28 years of dedication, warmth, and quietly holding everything together behind the scenes. If you’re looking for a new challenge in retirement, may we humbly suggest not resurrecting the reindeer costume. Wherever this next chapter takes you, we hope it’s every bit as full of joy as the one you’re closing. We’ll miss you dearly.

In their own words; messages from fellow staff

Margaret has been a key member of the staff of Breakspear, and I have known her for the entire 28 years she was here.

She was my personal secretary, and a general secretary for all our clinical staff. Throughout all those years, I never heard her grumble. She was consistently kind and considerate, to patients and colleagues alike, and had a way of supporting all of us through the good and bad times. She was a constant presence through so many arrivals and departures over the years, including our much-missed librarian and friend Ann Yarr, our memorable nurse Elsa Page, and patient and helper Joyce Keller, to name just a few. Her skills were very much appreciated, both by us and by the many patients now sending their own good wishes for her retirement. Margaret is loved by all of us.  I will always remember that chuckling laugh of hers!

Margaret, thank you for 28 wonderful years and congratulations on your retirement. While I will admit I don’t quite understand the concept of retirement, I do understand wanting to spend more time with family.  Wishing you every happiness in your retirement!” — Jean

I had the most fantastic years working with Margaret. She has wonderful manners and was endlessly patient with my Somali/Italian/English accent. She was always so punctual for our morning meetings, and I’ll miss our jokes afterwards.  She was a very kind person, particularly on days when I couldn’t leave the premises and she would kindly go and pick up my favourite coffee.

Margaret, I wish you a very happy retirement, and I hope there’s always good coffee and good company for you every morning!” – Daud

I’ve worked alongside Margaret for 14 years, so she has been such a big part of working life for me, and it feels very strange not having her around. She has always been very kind and caring and brought a lot of character to the office! She will be missed.

Wishing you a very happy and well-deserved retirement, Margaret!” – Sharon

I have worked the with Margaret the whole 28 years she has been with Breakspear.  She has always been a pleasure to work with and always worked to a high standard and conducted herself very professionally.   One thing though that will always make me laugh is the fact one Thursday she tried to sneak out of the kitchen with two sausages instead of the allocated one.  But we all saw! 😄 Photos were taken!

Margaret, you will be sorely missed, even with extra sausages now.” -Susan

I won!  I retired before you! …but then I did 35+ years and you only served 28.  Perhaps you were paroled early for good behaviour!

Thank you for your loyalty and perfectionism, but most of all for your friendship, without which my time at Breakspear would have been less lovely.  I wish you a long and happy retirement.”  -Alister

Margaret, what to say! You made my days so much fun as I used to come up with nicknames for you depending on how stressed you were. Coffee usually kept your stress in check, but once that wore off, my humour would go into overdrive, so nicknames such as ‘Frosty Knickers,’ ‘Stress Bunny,’ and ‘Maj’ became staples. No amount of coffee could fix that, but my constant supply of chocolate and biscuits seemed to do the trick.

Joking aside, as you move into retirement, I wish you all the very best. I’m sure it’ll be spent having even more fun with family so enjoy every moment and stay in touch. Best wishes!” – Paul

Margaret was always very kind and helpful.  I hope you have a wonderful, well-deserved retirement.”  – Tracey

‘You’ll be missed. All the best in your retirement!” – Tracy

Wishing you well on your retirement!” – Debbie