By Isle of Wight Observer
The former headmistress of St Saviour’s Primary School, Totland, who was awarded an MBE in 2012 for her dedication to children and families, has died aged 86.
Mary Doyle, of Totland, adopted six children – Michael, Margaret, Martin, Peter, Sarah and Matthew, who died in 2020 – and fostered more than 30. She was born in Nottingham, and trained and qualified as a primary school teacher in London. The first years of her teaching career were spent in Nottingham and Derbyshire, before moving to the Isle of Wight with her father, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Mary taught at Holy Cross RC Primary School, East Cowes, and later, as headteacher, at St Saviour’s School from 1979 to 2002. She started fostering and adopting in the 1960s. As a single woman, many agencies turned her away. But the Catholic Children’s Society agreed to consider her, provided she was willing to care for children others often overlooked, taking on older children and those of mixed heritage. It began a remarkable 60-year commitment to fostering and adoption.
After her retirement, she raised her eldest grandson, Michael, and was proud of all her grandchildren – Thomas, Matthew, George, Louis, Patrick, Sam, Jake and Isabella. She also became the organiser at St Saviour’s Church.
She chaired the Isle of Wight adoption panel for 17 years, and served on the fostering panel for six years, continuing her service until her death.