By Jeremy Corbyn-
Jeremy Corbyn has led tributes to Mary Wilson, widow of former Labour prime minister Harold Wilson, after her death aged 102.
Mary Wilson died of a stroke, being the longest living spouse of a British prime minister, and the first Centenarian. The Labour leader said Lady Wilson was a “wonderful poet” who had provided huge support to her husband in his general electoral victories in the 1960s and 70s.
A known friend of Sir John Betjeman, Mary Wilson was a published poet whose literary work sold in the tens of thousands. Lady Wilson of Rievaulx staunchly opposed her husband on the issue of Britain’s entry to the European Community. She is known to have been a very loyal wife to prime minister, Harold Wilson, and must have been glad to live to see britain vote to leave the EU, though must have appreciated the very tough negotiations that has dogged current negotiations with The EU.
Mr Corbyn wrote on Twitter: “Sad to hear of the death of Mary Wilson. A wonderful poet and a huge support in Harold’s General Election victories. I send my condolences to her family and friends.”
Born in Diss, Norfolk, the daughter of Reverend Daniel Baldwin, Mary Wilson attended boarding school at Milton Mount College near Crawley, leaving in 1932 to attend a secretarial course in Cumberland for two years. She worked as a shorthand typist at Lever Brothers in Port Sunlight before marrying Harold Wilson on New Year’s Day 1940. Mary Wilson and her former prime ministerial husband had two sons, Robin and Giles
An accomplished poet, her volume of poetry ‘Selected Poems’ was published in 1970, and in 1976. Wilson was also one of three judges of the Man Booker Prize. She was widowed in 1995 after Harold Wilson died of Colorectal Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease after 10 years of illness, ending her 55 year marriage. As the wife of the prime minister in Downing Street , the prime minister’s wife inspired the Private Eye parody feature Mrs Wilson’s Diary.
She also proudly hosted Sir John Betjeman at No 10 and the poet wrote a piece about a journey they took together to Diss.
Mary will be laid to rest at a private funeral service with memorial services planned at the Isles of Scilly, where they shared a holiday home, and London.
Her husband, Harold, served as Prime Minister twice, between 1964 and 1970 and again between 1974 and 1976.
Pic Credits:www.gettyimages.co.uk