One of the first-ever Pride of Swindon winners who described the town as “full of beautiful people” has died aged 98 after years of commitment to Swindon.
Mary Ratcliffe, formerly Mary Elkin, was born in 1923 to a draper and a matron, and began her working career as a codebreaker in World War II.
According to her family, she took great pride in her work, but spoke very little about it due to the secrecy that surrounded the profession.
She arrived at Croft Road in Swindon in 1973, aged 50, and worked as an acupuncturist on Victoria Road. However, Mary was most famed for her portrayal of Queen Victoria at local events, which she did for 30 years.
She opened fetes, appeared in parades and graced Swindon with her presence as Queen Victoria, free of charge, at the request of event organisers.
When word of her hand-written royal tributes and Queen Victoria portrayal reached Buckingham Palace, she was invited to meet the living royals herself at Queen Elizabeth II’s Garden Party.
In 2008, Mary then became one of the first-ever recipients of the Pride of Swindon award for her work doing soup runs for the homeless with the Simon Community, and her campaigns for various social causes.
The award is something that is still continued today, celebrating the everyday heroes and committed community groups who go above and beyond to help others around the town.
“Whether as Mary or Queen Victoria, she championed underdogs with eloquent ferocity and actively supported humanitarian causes ranging from elder abuse to homelessness,” wrote her family.
Mary was also particularly skilled with her words, and was a frequent writer for the Swindon Advertiser from 2008 to 2011.
Her hand-written calligraphic letters which often scolded politicians or others in power, were frequently sent in to the Adver and many of her letters are still publically available on the Swindon Advertiser website.
"She tackled grave issues, where others feared to tread and as such was always true to herself," Mary once wrote about another former Adver colleague, and we dare say that the same words apply to Mary herself.
Mary moved to Kings Court Care Centre in her 90s after an accident left her in need of care, and it was there that she died on November 29, aged 98.
Mary now leaves behind three adult children and many grandchildren who say they will sorely miss her warm presence and appetite for life.
"She was fiercely independent and climbed the stairs to bed until the very last of her life," her family have said.
"She always described Swindon as a town full of beautiful people.”
Her family would like to say a particular heartfelt thanks to the staff at Kings Court Care Centre who cared for Mary right up until her last day.
The funeral will take place on Thursday, December 21 at 12.30pm at Christ Church on Cricklade Street in Old Town.
The family would like to welcome anyone to attend who was touched by Mary's life.
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