A pioneering Maida Vale youth club worker who turned troubled youngsters lives around has been remembered fifty years after her death.

After the Second World War, Margareta Berger-Hamerschlag (pictured), who lived with her family in Warwick Avenue, transformed the lives of poverty-stricken children in North Paddington and Queen's Park by showing them how to draw and paint.

Author Mel Wright's new book, entitled Beyond the Jiving, remembers the good work of Ms Berger-Hamerschlag at youth centres including at the Moberly Sports and Education Centre, in Kilburn Lane, Queen's Park.

"She was a real inspiration to young people and gained their confidence as someone they could tell their problems," said Mr Wright. "She was helping young people from poor areas 50 years ago, and I'm really impressed the Moberley Centre is still following in her footsteps."

In his book, Mr Wright said some of the young people caused trouble during Margareta's sessions, even becoming violent or stealing from her. He writes: "One boy she found particularly menacing. He told her coldly that he just wanted to join the army to kill people. Despite all the problems and disruption, Margareta believed that, with care and attention, the club members could be made into something. She saw the young members' rebelliousness as a driving force, a rich vein for self-expression. She became more and more determined to open their eyes to the world."

Margareta, also a successful artist, helped completely turn around the fortunes of one 16-year-old, Peter Young, who came to her art classes at the Moberley Centre. Mr Wright states: "He was keen to learn and she soon realised he had talent. She encouraged him to take up art more seriously by doing a full-time course in the conservation of paintings."

Mr Young later became head of conservation of paintings at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in Exhibition Road, South Kensington, where he stayed until he retired in 1993.

Beyond the Jiving is available for s7.50 from www.booksellercrow.com or call 020 8771 8831.