Margaret Johnston was a Senior Civil Servant, Assistant Secretary in the then Department of Economic Development and Director of Employment Services for Northern Ireland.  She took early retirement to enter the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and was called by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) as a Missions Specialist in that Church's Social Justice and Peacemaking Programme.  She met with members of political parties in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and in Local Government and travelled throughout the U.S. speaking with a wide variety of inter-denominational, professional,academic and social groups and on radio and T.V on the roots of conflict and conducting Sunday Services.

 

On her return to Northern Ireland, she was called to be Minister of Fortwilliam Park Presbyterian Church, Belfast.  Now Minister Emerita, she took up beekeeping in 1996, having been inspired by W.B.Yeates' poem 'The Lake Isle of Inishfree'.  She is a member of Dromore Beekeepers' Association and, following its establishment, also a founder member of Killinchy and District Beekeepers' Association and Secretary for 7 years, representing the Association on the U.B.K.A. Executive and latterly ex-officio.  Margaret also is

ex-officio  a member of C.O.N.B.A.  She speaks to various groups on beekeeping and is active in promoting the Craft.