Royal British Legion stalwart Mary Arnold ‘inspired all’

A Fife-born champion of the Royal British Legion, Mary Arnold, has died aged 88.

Mrs Arnold was born in Culross in 1925 to William and Isabella Henderson.

She went to Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline and returned as secretary to the headmaster after a short spell working in the Fraser and Carmichael grocery warehouse in the town.

She joined the Women’s RAF in 1944 and trained as a wireless operator.

In 1947 she met her future husband Peter, an RAF Mosquito navigator.

The couple moved to Norfolk and stayed in Overstrand, raising three sons.

Mrs Arnold became a telephonist and also served as a parish councillor for 12 years. She joined the Royal British Legion Women’s Section, holding several posts at branch and county level and became the first Scot to be appointed national chairman.

In 1988 she was made an OBE for her services to the legion.

National Women’s Section chairman Wendy Bromwich read the Legion prayer and exultation at her funeral in Overstrand.

Mary’s sister, Margaret Logan, said: “She always gave her all, inspiring all around her.”