Known locally as a “legend in the North”, Mary’s work as a dance teacher has seen her prepare children for stage and television appearances. Her protégés have been seen in Catherine Cookson TV dramas, stage productions of Joseph and other West End hits shows. But even though some may be destined for great things, it’s the simple traditions that Mary enjoys passing on to the youngsters. “They are still keen to learn the old ways of enjoying themselves, like country dancing,” says Mary.
As a teacher, she understands the importance of taking up new skills. No stranger to lifelong learning, she studied for an Oxford Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Local History in 2001. “I was delighted to be offered a place on the course, it illustrates how it's never too late to take up something new - from Ballet teacher to Historian is quite a leap!” says Mary. As far as becoming one of the older generation is concerned, “Age doesn’t come in to it. It just takes longer to walk up the hill!”
She has been able to combine a love of history with her IT skills, by creating the web pages for the Perceptions of Our Past project. Mary wrote the copy and built the web pages that showcase the project’s work. Besides her web based activities, she helps children develop their talents on and off-stage at the Simonside Youth Theatre.
Mary is long-accustomed to using her organisational skills and canny ability to reveal undiscovered talent in people. She is currently working with other project members on the second medieval fayre and preparing for an even bigger celebration next year on the 800th anniversary of the granting of the charter in 1204. With help from members of the theatre and volunteers in the village, which is a close-knit community on the North East coast, the plan is to make the pageant an event to remember. “The pageant is going to be bigger and better. We’re going to have a portable stage, a local choir, kids from the theatre will be performing, and Newbiggin’s residents will be dressing up in mediaeval outfits.”
In the meantime, Mary has been working with several young people who are entering the Cooperative Young Film Makers competition . With her past work involving young performers, theatres and TV production, it’s a natural progression to pass on her guidance to budding film makers. “I might have been working around kids for many years, but there’s still a lot more I want to pass on,” comments Mary. What’s certain for those lucky enough to have worked with her, they will always remember the wise words of their legendary Ballet teacher cum Historian.
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