Mary RobertsonMAILER (NEE MACNAIR)Passed away peacefully at Mapleford Nursing Home on December 22, aged 88 years. Originally from Falkirk in Scotland, where she met her husband Sandy at the St Andrews Church Youth Fellowship, Mary came to England with Sandy and children - Fiona, David, Kathleen and Morag in 1969, first living in Cheadle Hulme and then moving to Accrington when Sandy was ordained as minister at Whalley Road United Reformed Church. Sandy and Mary made Accrington their home and remained after Sandy’s retirement in 1997. Having trained and worked as a domestic science teacher in Scotland until Fiona was born, Mary then dedicated her life to bringing up her children - whilst also supporting Sandy in his varied career, particularly when he worked as a grocer and latterly a minister. As well as being devoted to her beloved husband Sandy and children - Fiona, David, Kathleen and Morag, Mary was a loving granny/ grandma to 11 grandchildren- Keren, Kirsty, Shona, Ben, Andrew, Abbie, Mairi, Dan, Craig, Euan and Rachael, and great granny to four great-grandchildren - George, Henry, Arthur and Oliver. Also aunt to Ann, Craig and Euan, sister-in-law to auntie Georgie, mother-in-law to Ian, Jacquie, Mark and Geoff, and godmother to Marion and Euan. Whilst her career as a teacher was short, Mary maintained her vocation to support and guide children throughout her life; teaching in Sunday schools in Falkirk and Cheadle Hulme, as a Brownie leader in Falkirk, running a play group in Cheadle Hulme, running the church creche and setting up a Toddler group in Accrington and, of course, deeply involved in her own children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Although she spent well over half of her life in England, like Sandy, Mary remained true to her Scottish roots and heritage. She was a member of the Clitheroe and District Caledonian Society for over 25 years where she participated in the twice weekly Scottish dancing group as well as the annual Burns Night and St Andrew’s Night events and acting as a stooge for children’s dancing exams. This led onto her involvement with the Lancashire and Cheshire Federation of Scottish Societies where Mary served in her own right as President and secretary of the annual Arts and Crafts Festival as well as supporting Sandy in his roles as Chaplain and Chieftain over many years. Mary was never idle. She turned her hand to every type of sewing including knitting, dressmaking and cross-stitch and enjoyed passing these skills onto anyone who was willing to learn. She was always to be found in the kitchen, whether home cooking and baking for the family, or catering for the many church and Scottish events that she and Sandy attended. She was also a volunteer at the Cancer Research and British Heart Foundation charity shops. In the small amount of leisure time left Mary and Sandy spent many happy holidays walking in Scotland and loved the day-trip opportunities to the Lakes, Trough of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales that living in Accrington afforded. If a tea shop could be included then all the better. In addition to her family Mary also had very many friends through her involvement in the local church and Scottish communities. We will all miss her dearly and treasure our memories of happy times with her. A service will be held for Mary on Monday, January 15 at 1.45pm at Accrington Crematorium. Family Flowers only. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society.
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