Mary had lived her whole life in Welwyn Garden City. I know little of her early life except that she went to City of London School and had worked as a Land Girl at Brickwall Farm before joining Hambro’s Bank in the City of London.

She is first noted in the Archives in the Welwyn Drama Club production of Lady Precious Stream in 1948. Although on stage perhaps only half a dozen times during her long membership of the Drama Club and the Barn Theatre Club, she notably took over, from her job as prompter, the role of Aunt Mildred in the N.F.Simpson play One Way Pendulum when the actress who was cast was taken ill just before the first night in 1967.

She was Secretary of the Drama Club for two years from 1951. Mary regularly worked as a prompter and programme seller, with a bit of wardrobe and stage management work as well, and although not taking any formal jobs after 1986 was, until last year, when she was taken ill, a regular member of the Wardrobe Team that meets on Monday and Tuesday mornings. With her extensive knowledge of Garden City history, she was a researcher for the Club’s history production Hippo on the Doorstep in 1980.

A keen member and a supporter of much of the Club’s work, Mary was a lively and dependable companion. We offer our condolences to her family and friends.