THE former chairman of the Bromsgrove Music Festival and International Young Musicians competition who has died at the age of 91.
Dr Mary White, nee Cottam, MBE was born on May 21, 1925, and was the daughter of a Yorkshire farmer.
Mary was very community-minded and, as well as being the long-serving Chairman of the Bromsgrove Festival and developing the renowned Young Musicians International Competition, she was also a magistrate and a district officer with St John’s Ambulance Brigade.
She was married to the late Dr Max White, had two children – John and Sara – and four grandchildren – Michael, Sophie, Jamie and Poppy.
Mary’s husband was a GP in Bromsgrove and she worked part-time as a hospital surgeon.
She was also very proud of her Yorkshire farming roots and owned Park Farm, Blyth, a mixed arable and beef rearing operation.
Despite living in Bromsgrove, she regularly visited the farm and took a strong interest in agriculture.
Mary passed away on March 30.
A spokesperson for the Bromsgrove Festival said: “She laid the foundations for the festival and turned it into an event that attracted people from miles around.
“Her hard work has helped make it the success it is today.”
There will be private family creation followed by a service of thanksgiving at Bromsgrove’s St John’s Church, on Wednesday, April 19.
There will also be a reception afterwards at Bromsgrove School, Kidderminster Road.
The family have requested no flowers but donations can be given to the Bromsgrove International Young Musicians Competition and Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings c/o James Giles & Sons Ltd, 24 Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0AE or by calling 01527 872318.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘James Giles & Sons Ltd Client Account’.
