Marge Green

Name: Marge Green
First Appeared: 9th May 1989
Last Appeared: 8th February 1990
Played by: Pat Coombs

Marge Green first made her appearance in May 1989, quickly establishing herself as a close friend of Dot Cotton and Ethel Skinner. Working as a cleaner at the Bed & Breakfast, initially for Doris and later for Pat Butcher, Marge also took over from Pauline Fowler at the launderette when Pauline’s health declined. Despite her best efforts, Marge often muddled up the service washes. An elderly spinster, Marge held the position of Brown Owl for the unruly Walford Brownies until Mo Butcher relieved her of her duties. Mo’s tenure didn’t last long, as she was soon sacked for lying about her age.

Timid and a bit of a soft touch, Marge was often bossed around by the more domineering personalities in Albert Square, including her friend Mo. Living at 93 Victoria Road, Marge devoted her life to caring for her ailing 93-year-old mother, a massive strain that only worsened after her mother suffered a second stroke in December 1989. Seeing Marge’s exhaustion, Dot, Ethel, and Mo whisked her away to Clacton for a holiday. During their trip, Marge caught the eye of a senior bachelor, Mr. Conroy. However, due to her sheltered life, she was too shy to let the romance develop, and even when Mr. Conroy proposed, she turned him down because of her commitment to her mother. Sadly, after her mother’s death, Marge decided to accept his proposal, but he had already left, and she returned to Walford alone.

The loss of her mother was devastating for Marge, but with the support of her friends, she slowly began to look forward to a future where she could focus on her own needs. Unfortunately, that future was short-lived. The following year, Marge’s cousin Fred arrived in Walford and convinced her to become his invalid mother’s companion on a cruise ship. Despite warnings from Mo, Marge felt obligated to care for her sick relative and left Walford in February 1990.