Queen's Park housing campaigner dies

She leaves behind five children - Margot, James, Robert, Josephine and Ian, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Born in Oxford in 1919, Mrs Agnew spent most of her life in London.

She devoted much of her time to improving conditions on the Mozart Estate and the surrounding Queen's Park area, and was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of her efforts.

After moving to the estate in 1973, Mrs Agnew immediately launched a campaign to deal with vandals who left graffiti, smashed windows and lit fires around the blocks.

Margot Agnew said: "Muriel put her energy into rectifying the situation.

"Finding that one person made no impact on the housing department, she spent hours knocking on doors and talking to people.

"Within a couple of years, Muriel had formed a thriving tenants' association."

The flats were improved with double glazing, security doors and fire doors, and stinking rubbish chutes were replaced by individual waste bins.

Mrs Agnew also turned her hand to providing recreational activities for bored young people on the estate, some of whom were behind the vandalising.

She raised more than £25,000 for the Avenues Youth Club, in Third Avenue, by using her administration skills to apply for grants.

* In celebration of her mother's life, Margot Agnew is hoping to hold a memorial event in the spring and wants anyone who remembers her to come forward with stories or pictures.

If you remember Muriel Agnew, leave a comment in the box below or email murielagnew@btinternet.com.