Mary Stewart, Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Henderson Stewart, Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch, née Birkinshaw, JP (8 May 1903 – 28 December 1984) was a British
politician and educator. She was the wife of Labour
Foreign Secretary, Michael Stewart
.
The daughter of commercial traveller Herbert Birkinshaw and Isabella née Garbutt, Mary was born in Bradford
and was educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls
(KEHS) Birmingham
, and Bedford College, University of London, graduating with a BA in philosophy in 1928. She married Robert Godfrey Goodyear in 1931, but they were divorced in 1941; she then married Stewart two months later on 26 July 1941.
During World War II
, Stewart served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
(WAAF) at locations around the country. After the war, she worked for the Workers' Educational Association
, as a tutor until 1964. She became a member of the Fabian Society
Executive, serving as Chairman in 1963-64, and was also involved in local hospitals, schools and the East London Juvenile Court.
Stewart was created a life peer
as Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch, of Fulham in Greater London
in December 1974. She and her husband were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician and educator. She was the wife of Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Foreign Secretary, Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham
Robert Michael Maitland Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham, CH, PC was a British Labour politician and Fabian Socialist who served twice as Foreign Secretary in the first cabinet of Harold Wilson.- Early life :...
.
The daughter of commercial traveller Herbert Birkinshaw and Isabella née Garbutt, Mary was born in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and was educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent secondary school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham and occupies the same site as, and is twinned with, King Edward's School...
(KEHS) Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and Bedford College, University of London, graduating with a BA in philosophy in 1928. She married Robert Godfrey Goodyear in 1931, but they were divorced in 1941; she then married Stewart two months later on 26 July 1941.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Stewart served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...
(WAAF) at locations around the country. After the war, she worked for the Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
, as a tutor until 1964. She became a member of the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
Executive, serving as Chairman in 1963-64, and was also involved in local hospitals, schools and the East London Juvenile Court.
Stewart was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch, of Fulham in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
in December 1974. She and her husband were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.