Norma Major facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norma Major
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| Born |
Norma Christina Elizabeth Wagstaff
12 February 1942 Shropshire, England
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| Education | London South Bank University |
| Occupation |
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| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Dame Norma Major was born on February 12, 1942. She is known for her important charity work. She is married to Sir John Major, who used to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Contents
Norma Major: A Life of Service
Growing Up: Norma's Early Years
Norma Christina Elizabeth Wagstaff was born in Shropshire, England. Her father, Norman Wagstaff, was a soldier in the Royal Artillery. Her mother, Edith Wagstaff, used to sell umbrellas.
Norma was born during World War II. Her father sadly died in an accident when she was only three years old. After this, her mother started using her maiden name, Johnson. So, Norma grew up known as Norma Johnson.
Her Education and Skills
Norma went to a boarding school in Bexhill-on-Sea. She also attended Oakfield Preparatory School and Peckham School for Girls. At Peckham, she was the "head girl," which means she was a leader among the students.
She was very good at making clothes, a skill known as dressmaking. Norma was also a member of the Young Conservatives. This group helps young people learn about politics.
Meeting John Major and Marriage
Norma met John Major at a political meeting. This was during the campaign for the 1970 Greater London Council elections. They got married on October 3, 1970.
They have two children, a son named James and a daughter named Elizabeth. While her husband was Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, Norma preferred to keep a quiet life. She focused on charity work and writing books.
Books She Wrote
Norma wrote two books. One was about a famous singer, Joan Sutherland: The Authorised Biography (1994). The other was about the Prime Minister's country home, Chequers: The Prime Minister's Country House and its History (1997).
Helping Others: Charity Work
In June 1999, Norma Major received a special honor. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This award recognized all her hard work for charities.
Norma is a big supporter of Mencap. This charity helps people with learning disabilities. She has helped raise a lot of money for Mencap, about £6,000,000.
