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Mary Wilson

(96 Posts)
MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 07:39:54

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/07/mary-wilson-obituary

Or rather Baroness Wilson of Rievaulx , although I am sure she would have preferred the former, has died.
Reading her obituaries I am reminded of the affection in which she was held regardless of political persuasion and of days when life seemed more straightforward.
When politicians or other public figures fade from the public eye, generally their spouses do too, but recently I have been struck by the intelligence and integrity of women such as Barbara Bush or Edna Healey.
RIP Mary Wilson

silverlining48 Fri 08-Jun-18 07:53:32

A great age, 102 I think. Yes I remember her, I was a young woman, she was elderly, now I am elderly, such is life. RIP Mary.

BlueBelle Fri 08-Jun-18 08:18:22

Reminded of days when life seemed more straight forward and yet we ve both been in another thread talking if the conspiracies and complexities of life in that era with Thorpe and band ?

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 08:33:49

Good point BlueBelle but Harold Wilson with his pipe and Gannex mac seemed a safer pair of hands than any these days- on whichever side.

BlueBelle Fri 08-Jun-18 08:38:25

I totally agree it just made me smile how easily we can cross over with some information positive/negative, negative/positive ?

Anniebach Fri 08-Jun-18 09:01:54

Just as McMillian was viewed , yet his beloved wife Dorothy was in a relationship for years with Lord Boothby who was bi sexual and was also in a relationship with one of the Krays. Now the press would have disclosed all this.

Anniebach Fri 08-Jun-18 09:02:27

RIP Mary Wilson

MaizieD Fri 08-Jun-18 09:11:00

Good God, Ab! That piece of gossip has just sent my eyebrows shooting round to the back of my head. A Kray brother? shock
Is this verifiable fact?

Anniebach Fri 08-Jun-18 09:13:49

Yes Maizie ? . Surely some here remember Boothby ?

MaizieD Fri 08-Jun-18 09:24:26

Boothby I'm well aware of. It's the Kray brother I'm asking about.

BlueBelle Fri 08-Jun-18 09:27:08

Yes I remember Lotd Boothby but never heard that rumour (or fact) that’s a bit of a shocker

maryeliza54 Fri 08-Jun-18 09:38:32

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11948323/lord-boothby-sex-parties-ronnie-kray-mi5-documents.html

Here we are - don’t the powerful and upper classes get looked after so well?

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 09:44:47

Is it fair to hijack a thread about Mary Wilson?
(Oh let’s have another political bunfught shall we? )

Cherrytree59 Fri 08-Jun-18 09:52:10

RIP Mary Wilson flowers

Jane10 Fri 08-Jun-18 09:53:45

If you're looking for a fight I'll argue with you that a 'bunfight' was schoolboy slang for a tea party!
Maybe we should all have a virtual tea party - oops, just remembered that's what Soops Kitchen is. Oh well.
RIP Mary Wilson.

maryeliza54 Fri 08-Jun-18 09:54:42

And who exactly is that post aimed at MB? All of us on this thread? Perhaps you shouldn’t have made the point about ‘life seemed more straightforward’. I rather think the issues brought up here are a little bit more than a political bunfight but yet another example of how the powerful, the upper classes, the well connected made a mockery of the justice system in this country.

GillT57 Fri 08-Jun-18 09:55:19

I was surprised to hear that Mary Wilson was still alive, she wrote poetry I think? I was just a child during the Wilson days, but remember talk of Harold's alleged relationship with Marcia Faulkener. Despite all this, Mary Wilson showed dignity and I hope she was happy in her long retirement. Not wishing to hijack this thread, but anniebach is right, there was talk of Boothby, and 'rough trade'.

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 09:56:43

Entirely off topic, but if I may.
When DD was gong to be confirmed I overheard her on the phone to a friend saying “Mum says there will be cake throwing in the church hall afterwards”
I was using it here in the GN sense.
cupcakecupcake too precious to throw!

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 10:00:04

Mary Wilson would have been the last person to regard herself as part of the Establishment.
I had perhaps hoped that others might have their own opinions/insights to share on other examples of the “woman behind the man”

Anniebach Fri 08-Jun-18 10:01:50

Sorry my fault Maw.

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 10:11:40

No probs Anniebach smile

maryeliza54 Fri 08-Jun-18 10:13:56

MB we were talking about the political times not her as such. Whenever a political figure or someone connected to a political figure dies, it’s inevitable that the political context of their lives will be part of their obituaries. It’s particularly relevant at the moment because of the JT case. I have to say that DM is a particularly interesting example of the woman behind the man as is Edwina Mountbatten.

MawBroon Fri 08-Jun-18 10:33:36

Edwina Mountbatten was rather outrageous wasn’t she,but presumably effective and fulfilled her role which wasn’t easy.
So do you really believe she had an affair with Gandhi?

I am glad you feel that way about your DM.
My MIL as a Diplomatic wife was a heck of a lot more “diplomatic” than my FIL, a charismatic character but who can’t have been easy to live with.

merlotgran Fri 08-Jun-18 10:42:51

I thought she had an affair with Nehru confused

Anniebach Fri 08-Jun-18 10:43:54

Edwina had an affair with Nehru not Gandhi . She and Mountbatten had an open marriage . Many affairs on both sides.