Born

In Plymouth

Education

Bolsover Infants School

Salisbury Road Junior School

North Prospect Junior School

Burleigh Secondary Modern

Devonport High School for Girls (6th Form)

Family

Mary has two daughters, Clare, who now lives in Wellington, New Zealand and Kate, who will serve as Deputy Lady Mayoress, and works for Plymouth City Council in the Housing Department.

Career background

Worked in the hospital services in Plymouth, initially as a nurse and qualified as a midwife in 1979. She worked at Freedom Fields and the Alexandra Maternity Units before becoming a Community Midwife in 1982.

Due to the onset of Psoriatic Arthritis, Mary had to take ill-health retirement from midwifery in 2002.

Political career

Became a Devon County Councillor in 1995 representing Plymstock Radford.

In 1997 became a Plymouth City Councillor when Plymouth became Unitary.

Has served as a spokesperson on Planning, Housing and Waste

Chair of the Plymstock Area Committee.

27 years on Plymouth Cruse Bereavement Care and is still a Member of the Executive Committee.

Vice Chair of Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Chair of All Children First (PCC’s Early Year’s Partnership).

Vice Chair of South Devon and Cornwall Institute for the Blind.

Chair of Plymouth Community Partnership.

Chair of the East End Healthy Living Board.

School Governor at Salisbury Road Infants School and Hillside Special School.

Mary is a member of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, which aims to influence policy within the areas of the well-being of adults.

Interests