Mary Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Lymington facts for kids

Dorothy Mary Donaldson, Baroness Donaldson of Lymington (born August 29, 1921 – died October 4, 2003) was a very important British woman. She made history as the first female Lord Mayor of London. She held this special role from 1983 to 1984. Before this, she was known as Dame Mary Donaldson.

Early Life and Career

Dorothy Mary Warwick was born in Wickham, Hampshire, England. Her father was an ironmonger, and her mother was a school teacher. During World War II, Dorothy trained to be a nurse. She officially became a qualified nurse in 1946.

Helping Others

Dorothy was always keen to help her community. From 1967 to 1969, she led the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign. This group worked to help prevent cancer in women. Later, she became the vice president of the British Cancer Council.

Breaking Barriers in London

In 1966, Dorothy was chosen to be a member of the City of London Court of Common Council. This was an important step in her public life. She continued to break new ground for women in leadership roles.

• In 1975, she became the first female alderman. An alderman is a senior member of the City of London's government.
• In 1981, she was chosen as the first female Sheriff of the City of London. This is another historic position in the city.
• Finally, in 1983, she achieved her most famous role. She became the first female Lord Mayor of London.

Her Thoughts on Leadership

Dorothy once shared her thoughts on the strengths of men and women. She said, "Of course there are things which men can do better than women... But equally, women have attributes which men can never possess. Personally, I find it difficult not to become over-involved in issues concerning people." This shows she cared deeply about people.

Continuing Contributions

After her time as Lord Mayor, Dorothy continued to serve in important ways. From 1985, she led a group called the Interim Licensing Authority for Human In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryology. This group helped guide new medical science. She was also a member of the Press Complaints Commission from 1991 to 1996. This group looked after standards in newspapers.

Dorothy remained the only female Lord Mayor of the City of London for a long time. Another woman, Fiona Woolf, was elected to the role in 2013.

Family Life

Dorothy Mary Donaldson was married to John Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Lymington. He was also a very important person, serving as the Master of the Rolls from 1982 to 1992. They got married in 1945. Together, they had two daughters and one son.