{"id":6192,"date":"2025-07-26T11:32:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T10:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/harrogate\/?p=6192"},"modified":"2025-07-26T11:32:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T10:32:18","slug":"harrogate-civic-society-plaque-for-former-member-mrs-mary-fisher-mbe-jp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/harrogate\/2025\/07\/26\/harrogate-civic-society-plaque-for-former-member-mrs-mary-fisher-mbe-jp\/","title":{"rendered":"Harrogate Civic Society Plaque for former member Mrs Mary Fisher MBE JP"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Brown<\/a><\/p>\n

Fantastic news – \u00a0there is now a Harrogate Civic Society<\/a> Brown Plaque to mark \u00a0Mary Fisher MBE<\/a> contribution to civic life of Harrogate from the 1920s until her death in 1972. The plaque is sited at 1 Mount Parade in the centre of Harrogate. A place she lived with her husband and family for over forty years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mary Fisher nee Stott MBE JP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How we got involved?<\/h3>\n

Club member Val Hills first became aware of Mary Fisher MBE when she saw her gravestone in Stonefall cemetery in 2021 and wondered, \u00a0who was this woman?\u00a0 The first Lady Mayor and Alderman of Harrogate and Honorary Freeman of Harrogate Borough. This started her inquiry into Mary’s \u00a0life, using the Internet, visiting Harrogate library\u2019s newspapers archive collection, the British Newspaper Archive, \u00a0Ancestry.com and by talking to people who knew and remembered Mary.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mary and her husband Frank’s gravestone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The life of a remarkable woman.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mary Fisher, nee Stott, \u00a0played a key role in bringing Girl Guiding to Harrogate<\/a> in the 1930s. She was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1939, elected a town councillor in 1943, all at a time when women had only just recently received the vote. \u00a0In 1949 she became the first Lady Mayor. She continued a life of service to the community.\u00a0 This included the chairmanship of Harrogate and District Society for the Blind, the establishment of council home for the elderly as well as supporting other organisations for the young, elderly and disabled. In 1958 Mary received an MBE from The Queen, for services to the community. She became an Honorary Freeman of Harrogate Borough in 1970. Mary was well known in her life time and highly regarded.<\/p>\n

Working with others to get the Evidence<\/h3>\n

The Club \u00a0believed Mary Fisher deserved a Brown Plaque. We are keen to see notable local women\u2019s contributions recognised in this way. With our founder member Dr Kathleen Rutherford MBE<\/a> already recognised. Harrogate Civic Society were also aware of Mary\u2019s legacy. We were supported in our campaign to get Mary recognised with an article in the Harrogate Advertiser<\/a> \u00a0by Graham Chalmers. This \u00a0led to her Granddaughter, Anne Asquith, contacting the Club as well as Vision Support Harrogate District<\/a>. \u00a0Anne provided more insight into Mary life and far better photos. Vision Support provided the Eulogy \u00a0at Mary’s Memorial Service service in March 1972. The Fisher family supported Harrogate and District Society for the Blind (the forerunner of Vision Support Harrogate KAVS). Mary chaired the meetings up to her death in 1972.<\/p>\n

Finding out Mary is a past member of the Club<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mary Fisher is second from the left on the back row<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another discovery, as the Club celebrated its 90th<\/sup> year in 2023, was finding, from a photo taken in the 1940s, \u00a0that Mary<\/a> had been an active member of our Club \u00a0–\u00a0 A sister Soroptimist.<\/p>\n

Anne, Mary’s Granddaugher confirmed this. Mary’s badge is in her keepsakes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mary’s Soroptimist International badge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thank you to Harrogate Civic Society<\/h3>\n

Thank you to Harrogate Civic Society for their support and research in recognising Mary\u2019s life as one that deserved a Civic Society Brown plaque.<\/p>\n

Unveiling of the Plaque<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Mayor of Harrogate Town, Cllr Chris Aldred, after unveiling the plaque<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 22nd July 2025 marks a special day. \u00a0Mary was at the centre of much civic activity to help others throughout her adult life. \u00a0As well as running a business and raising a family. The plaque that marks where she lived is also near to the butchers shop she ran with her husband and latterly her son.\u00a0 In the heart of Harrogate, \u00a0a town she gave so much too. \u00a0A Beloved Citizen as stated on the front page of the local paper when she died in 1972.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Mayor, Cllr Chris Aldred, Tanya Stimpson, Director at Vision Support Harrogate and Club member Val Hills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three generations of Mary’s family were able to be present at the unveiling at Mary’s old home \u00a0followed by a reception at Vision Support Harrogate KAVS. The unveiling was introduced by Mike Newby, Chair of Harrogate Civic Society. Cllr Mike Aldred, The Mayor of Harrogate Town Council <\/a>unveiled the plaque. Club member Val Hills and Mary’s granddaughter spoke about Mary’s life.<\/p>\n

The Club \u00a0would like to give a special thank you to:<\/p>\n