The Sport and Recreation Alliance is sad to note the passing of former Alliance Chair and long standing Vice-President, Dame Mary Glen Haig DBE.
Dame Mary served as Chair of the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR), which is now the Sport and Recreation Alliance, from 1974 to 1980 and had been a lifetime Vice-President since 1982.
Born in 1918, Dame Mary first became interested in sport, in particular fencing, through her father James, himself a fencer and competitor in the 1908 London Olympic Games. Dame Mary went on to represent Great Britain in the fencing competitions at the Olympic Games from 1948 to 1960, at the Commonwealth Games from 1950 to 1958, and at Regional Games and World Championships from 1937 to 1959.
After her competing days had finished, Dame Mary immersed herself in a number of administrative roles both in sport and healthcare.
She was very much regarded as a trailblazer for equality for women in sport. When asked if she came across opposition to the idea of women fencing she said, “I think there were a lot of people like that, but it never bothered me, not at all. Fencing is an interesting game. I enjoyed it very much. It's a game of outwitting your opponent.”
Dame Mary was also the first woman to become a member of the International Olympic Committee, being a member from 1982 to 1994 and an honorary member thereafter.
IOC president Thomas Bach said, "Dame Mary Alison Glen-Haig lived a life full of passion for sport and was a pioneer in many respect.
"Her skills on the sports field, as well as in the medical field, combined with her warm personality, made her unique. She was a true inspiration."
Emma Boggis, Alliance Chief Executive, said that sport owed a debt to Dame Mary.
“Dame Mary Glen Haig’s illustrious life in our sector speaks for itself. She broke through glass ceilings and was a pioneer for women in sport. Her chairmanship of the Alliance was followed quickly by her representation on the IOC, which for the time was a remarkable achievement. The world of women in sport has changed a lot since then but I am sure that there is much which Dame Mary would still like us to achieve. Sadly, we will have to continue that work without her now.”
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