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Huntly's champion fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support dies aged 90


By Pat Scott

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Mary Ord on the night she received her MBE from the then Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire Angus Farquharson.
Mary Ord on the night she received her MBE from the then Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire Angus Farquharson.

A WOMAN who was passionate about raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support has died after a short illness.

Mary Ord who was 90, was a member of the Huntly committee for nearly 40 years devoting all her charity work to them.

For over 30 years, she was the lynch pin of fundraising coffee mornings in Huntly, running the kitchen, donating any money she received in thanks to Macmillan.

Always up for a challenge, she even zip wired across Pittodrie for Macmillan.

Her efforts for the charity were recognised as recently as her 90th birthday when she received a letter from Macmillan recognising her contribution over nearly 40 years.

She also received a Macmillan president's medal, was Citizen of the Year in 1988 and was made an MBE in the 2007.

Her charity work extends back to the 1960's when she supported Helen Dean making shortbread to raise cash for the Pipe Band and baked loaves and sponges to generate the money needed for the swimming pool.

Born in Portsoy in November 1930, her first job was in a shoe shop and saddler in the village.

Aged just 15, she came to Huntly to work as a housemaid.

In January 1951, she married Norman Bain and they had three of a family - Norma, Neil and Robbie.

Widowed in 1969 and with a dependent family, Mary worked in a number of jobs including as an auxiliary at Jubilee Hosptial.

She married Bob Ord in 1981 and when he was diagnosed with cancer nursed him until his death which was the catalyst for her to become involved with the cancer charity.

Her daughter Norma Gray said: "Mam would have done anything to help anyone. She was very much a family person and never happier than when surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She didn't like to visit unless there was a job for her."

Mary is survived by her three siblings, seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.


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