Mary Donaldson, Lady Donaldson of Lymington facts for kids

Dorothy Mary Donaldson (born August 29, 1921 – died October 4, 2003) was a very important person in London's history. She was the first woman to become the Lord Mayor of London. She was also known as Dame Mary Donaldson.

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

A Leader for London: Dorothy Donaldson's Journey

Dorothy Donaldson was a true trailblazer. She held many important roles in the City of London. She helped open doors for other women in leadership.

Helping Others: Health and Community Work

From 1967 to 1969, Dorothy led the Women's National Cancer Control Campaign. This group worked to help prevent cancer in women. After that, she became the vice president of the British Cancer Council. She cared deeply about people and their health.

Breaking Barriers: First Woman in Key Roles

In 1966, Dorothy was chosen to be a member of the City of London Court of Common Council. This was a big step. She then became the first woman to hold several important positions:

• She was the first female alderman in 1975. An alderman is a senior member of the city's government.
• She was the first female Sheriff of the City of London in 1981. The Sheriff helps with city ceremonies and traditions.
• In 1983, she made history again. She became the first female Lord Mayor of London. The Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London's government.

Dorothy once 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 a lot about people.

Continuing Her Public Service

After being Lord Mayor, Dorothy continued to serve the public. From 1985, she led a group called the Interim Licensing Authority. This group helped with rules for new medical treatments. Later, from 1991 to 1996, she was part of the Press Complaints Commission. This group looked into complaints about newspapers.

Dorothy Donaldson was the only female Lord Mayor of the City of London for many years. Another woman, Fiona Woolf, was elected to the role in 2013.

Family Life

Dorothy Donaldson was married to John Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Lymington. They got married in 1945. John was also a very important person. He was the Master of the Rolls from 1982 to 1992. This is a high-ranking judge in England. Dorothy and John had three children: two daughters and one son.