Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess of Mar
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
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Lord Temporal
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| as a hereditary peer 11 September 1975 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 30th Earl of Mar |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 – 1 May 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | The 9th Baron Londesborough |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Margaret Alison Lane
19 September 1940 |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Spouses |
Edwin Noel Artiss
(m. 1959; div. 1976)John Salton
(m. 1976; div. 1981)John Jenkin
(m. 1982) |
| Children | Susan of Mar, Mistress of Mar |
| Parents |
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Margaret Alison of Mar, the 31st Countess of Mar, was born on 19 September 1940. She is a Scottish noblewoman and former politician. She was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament, from 1975 to 2020. She held a special title called a "hereditary peerage," meaning it was passed down in her family.
The Countess of Mar is famous for holding the oldest noble title in the United Kingdom, the earldom of Mar. She was also the only "suo jure" countess, which means she held the title in her own right, not through her husband. From 2014 to 2020, she was the only female hereditary peer in the House of Lords. Besides her political role, she is also a farmer and used to make special goat cheese.
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Early Life and Family Name
Margaret Alison Lane was born to Millicent Mary Salton and James Clifton Lane. Her father later became the 30th Earl of Mar. This meant he was the next in line to inherit the noble title.
Margaret had two younger siblings: David and Janet. In 1959, her father's family name was officially changed to "of Mar." From then on, Margaret and her siblings also used "of Mar" as part of their names, dropping "Lane."
Working Life
Before becoming a Countess, Margaret had several jobs. From 1959 to 1962, she worked for the government in the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. This department helped people with their pensions and other benefits.
Later, from 1964 to 1969, she worked as a nursing assistant at Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital. She also worked for British Telecom, a phone company, as a sales superintendent from 1969 to 1982. After that, she started her own farming business.
Becoming the Mistress of Mar
When Margaret's father became the 30th Earl of Mar in 1965, she received the title Lady Margaret of Mar. Her brother became The Master of Mar. Sadly, her brother passed away in 1967.
Because she was the elder daughter and next in line to inherit her father's title, Margaret then became known as The Mistress of Mar. This title showed she was the likely future holder of the earldom.
The Countess of Mar in Parliament
In 1975, Margaret's father died, and she became the 31st Countess of Mar. This made her the most senior countess in Scotland. With her new title, she also gained a seat in the House of Lords. She gave her first speech there in April 1976.
The House of Lords Act 1999 changed how people became members of the House of Lords. Before this, most hereditary peers could automatically sit there. After the Act, only 92 hereditary peers were allowed to remain, and they had to be elected by other peers. Lady Mar was one of these elected peers and received the most votes!
She sat as a "crossbencher," which means she didn't belong to any specific political party. She made her own decisions based on what she thought was best. Lady Mar retired from the House of Lords on May 1, 2020.
During her time in the House of Lords, Lady Mar held several important roles:
- She was a Deputy Chair of Committees from 1997 to 2007. This meant she helped lead discussions and manage the work of different committees.
- She served on committees that looked at topics like the environment, public health, and farming.
- She was also a Deputy Speaker at different times, helping to lead debates in the House.
Lady Mar was also involved in groups outside the main committees. She was part of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, which checks new laws. She also helped with the Lords Refreshment Committee, which looks after food and drink services.
Beyond her work in Parliament, Lady Mar held many other important positions:
- She was a member of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, helping with immigration cases.
- She was Chairman of Honest Food, a group promoting good food.
- She was President of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, a group for writers about farming.
- She was also a patron for groups helping people with disabilities and the elderly.
- She is an Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, showing her connection to animal health.
Advocacy for Health Issues
In 1989, Lady Mar became ill after being exposed to certain chemicals while working on her farm. She was later diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). This is a long-term illness that causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms.
Because of her own experience, Lady Mar used her position in the House of Lords to help others. She strongly encouraged the government to provide better care for people with long-term, hard-to-understand illnesses. She also pushed for stricter rules on the use of certain chemicals, like organophosphates, which she believed contributed to her illness.
To further help, Lady Mar started an organization called Forward-ME. This group brings together different charities and organizations that support people with chronic fatigue syndrome and ME.
Family Life
Lady Mar has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Edwin Noel Artiss, then to John Salton, and finally to John Jenkin.
She has one daughter from her first marriage, Susan Helen of Mar, born in 1963. Susan is known as the Mistress of Mar, meaning she is the next in line to inherit her mother's noble title. Lady Susan is married to Bruce Alexander Wyllie, and they have two daughters, Isabel and Frances.
Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family or a noble title. The Countess of Mar has a unique coat of arms:
- Shield: The main part of the shield is blue with a gold diagonal stripe. There are also six small gold crosses with pointed bottoms.
- Crest: Above the shield, there's a red hat with ermine fur. On top of this hat are two wings, also colored like the shield.
- Coronet: A special crown, called a Coronet of an Earl, sits above the shield.
- Supporters: On each side of the shield are two silver creatures called griffins, which have golden beaks, claws, and wings.
- Motto: The family motto is "Pans Plus," which means "Think more."
- Badge: This is another symbol, showing a nobleman with a beard, wearing a red robe and a pointed hat with a tall feather. This is all inside a wreath of Scots Fir branches.
See also
- House of Lords
- House of Lords Act 1999
- List of members of the House of Lords
