Mary Tristram Kershaw née Jenkins Mary was born on 20th February 1943 in the club house of Lyndrick Golf Club near Worksop on the border of Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire Mary insisted she was Yorkshire. From an early age the world of the theatre and dance in particular were a huge part of her life, as she studied ballet and tap as a child, in her early teens winning the All England Championships in Sheffield. Mary was Head Girl at her senior school, Dinnington Technical School On the 22nd August 1959 Mary was the bridesmaid at her elder brother’s wedding where she met the bride’s cousin, one of the ushers, a boy called Graham. It must have been “Bingo” because they married 5 years to the day later. On 29 August 1964 Graham married “the love of his life” On leaving school, Mary thought of joining the Air Force but decided that she should become a teacher and studied at Didbury Training College. After qualifying she taught for many years until the children came along, Catherine in 1966, Jonathan in 1968, Robert in 1970, and Louise in 1972. Mary then set up and ran a play group in her spare time. Mary and Graham set up home in Royton, at first in a caravan until their house was ready, then moving to the family home in Whitworth. Mary joined Whitworth Musical and Dramatic Society in 1965 playing in the chorus and later, major roles including Ado Annie twice, Dolly Levy, Susan in Desert Song, Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Mary and her great pal, Ann Kerry, started Junior Associates of Whitworth Society. Their very successful first show Wizard of Oz, was featured on BBC Children’s Television. They ran JAWS for 10 years, JAWS is still running today. In more recent times, as well as looking after her grandchildren for the past 18 years, and working in the family business, Prosceneium, Mary found time to sing with the local choir Descant and be chair of the church social committee, and raise thousands of pounds for cancer charities from sponsored walks. Mary and Graham moved to the dream home they loved, in Denholm, 8 years ago, their 11th home. Mary loved Graham, her children and grandchildren, butterflies and rainbows. We are sure Mary has now found her crock of gold at the end of her rainbow.
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