Tributes have been paid to a dedicated charity and social worker who was friends with a Prime Minister and who had a “mind as sharp as a pencil”.

Margery Taylor, 93, of Chestnut Drive, Wanstead, held a number of roles in the social work and charity sector throughout her varied and distinguished career, and was awarded an OBE in 1980 for her services to charity and social work.

She was director of Social Services for Redbridge between 1980 and 1984 where she was described by colleagues as a power house.

Close friend Michael Spinks said: “She had a mind as sharp as a pencil. At meetings, a decision was never taken until she had offered her opinion, and I never knew a judgement go against her advice.”

Margery, who died on October 18, studied at the London School of Economics, where she met her long term partner Walter Butterworth.

They were friendly with their neighbours Jim and Audrey Callaghan and Mr Callaghan continued “to call on her expertise” when he became Prime Minister, according to Mr Spinks.

Her brother David Taylor said she was a “generous and gregarious person”.

Margery was born in Lincolnshire on May 19, 1920.