Maxine Jean- Marie Padmore’s recent death shocked most people, but moreso, her good friend and constant companion, Marva Rollins, OBE, who gave a passionate and eloquent tribute at her funeral.
Rollins spoke of their intense friendship of forty-two years, one she described as sharing, giving, and receiving in equal measure. “This is all framed around giving and the golden thread she weaved throughout her time on Earth. That thread will, I am sure, continue through her treasured five daughters or five chapters of love as they grapple with their loss and continued commitment to care for their Dad, Paddy”, she said.
Marva Rollins recalled that while Maxine was in the hospital, she seemed less concerned about the discomfort of the plaster cast on her broken foot and more about her current plans. Uppermost in her mind was setting up a day centre to meet the needs of adults with Alzheimer’s and offering families support. The centre would be named after her husband, Paddy, in recognition of his condition and his contribution to the community over the years.
“We talked about returning to running her school-based programme, which aimed at motivating students to focus on achieving their potential, inspiring them to beat any of the odds/obstacles that can stand in their way. She had led this programme for several years and was keen to return to what she does best – motivating and inspiring young people. She talked again about writing her story and leaving this as a legacy to her children and grandchildren. “
Maxine and Marva met in 1981 on an evening class study program that enabled them to progress to a four-year Bachelor of Education honours degree. This was challenging as they both had young children. Even in those early days of their friendship, Maxine’s kindness and willingness to assist those who needed rest and solace from their trauma, sometimes allowing them to stay at her home, was evident.
On completing her degree, Maxine taught in Hackney and soon after opened a nursery in Tottenham with her sister, Maurine. After many parents had expressed concerns about what would happen to their children if they had to go into state schools with not the best track record, Maxine responded by opening her school, based in the Selby Centre, which meant that many young children transitioned from the nursery to her school over the years. She was sympathetic to parents, and adjusting fees to help those in difficulty was not unusual. At times, her empathy and kindness overrode the business element, and this was another way her golden thread wrapped itself around the young families. Maxine also formed The Chesterfield Field Young Foundation, a charity named after her Pa and her aunt in Barbados, who raised her until she arrived in England at age fifteen. Her love for young children’s education and well-being was matched by her massive passion for the care and well-being of older people. The aim was to help older people in care homes in Barbados, so she gathered a group of volunteers who supported that aim, such as family.
members and well-known community activists such as Sam Springer and Winston Pinder. These volunteers would turn up regularly at her home with a range of items, including walking frames, walking sticks, clothing, medical items, and foodstuff. Every year, many things were sent, particularly to the care home in St Thomas, which always appreciated their bags of supplies. A special mention of Colin Carter, who stepped in when he heard what Maxine was doing and helped reduce the cost of us getting the items to Barbados. On average, a minimum of six barrels went to Barbados each year. All the expenses were met by a group of people who loved and respected Maxine’s generous spirit of giving.
Marva spoke of one of the abiding memories of her friend. Maxine had survived a stroke that the medical professionals felt she would not recover from. Meanwhile, supporters had continued to deliver donated items to her house, so after coming home from the hospital, Maxine organised the packing of the barrels from her settee, directing her husband and ensuring that she got as much as possible into each barrel.
“Those golden threads were weaving their way to Barbados, taking the focus away from her challenges to those she felt were in greater need. Nothing, including daily dialysis, got in her way of helping others. Threads that reached beyond Barbados as she regularly supported children’s education in other islands. Throughout all this, she kept her close ties with school friends in Barbados whose bonds had continued over her 57 years in this country.”
“Her success nearer to home was bringing into this world five amazing babies who have grown into young women, something of which she was proud. She is the only person I know with five children who are all graduates like her. A truly fantastic achievement. Other people’s extraordinary was Maxine’s ordinary – no fussing, she just got on with helping others, ” Marva continued.
This love of children brought her to Marva Rollins School in Edmonton while recovering from her stroke. She worked daily with small groups of children in the initial stages of learning to speak English, traumatised by their experiences. Maxine believed every child is teachable with love and care and feeling valued. Some girls, whose home lives were complicated, preferred staying with her during break time. There were many stories, but Marva returned to Maxine’s final days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where waiting rooms were filled with anxiety and fear. People came and went very quickly, having, in the main, heard the news they would rather not hear.
Marva’s support for her family was second to none. “Her golden thread will continue to weave around the lives of Paddy, her family, my boys (now men) and our grandchildren, you, your children, and your grandchildren. In those quiet moments of reflection, when we feel her presence, we know her love lives on and recognise that we are all better people for having had her in our lives,” she said.
RIP Maxine
Marva Rollins OBE has been a retired headteacher since 2019 after 24+ years. She is now a consultant supporting school leaders in schools in challenging circumstances through coaching and practical mentoring.
