2. Blissful Beginnings

Mary Wilson, who became Mary Warnock, was born on 14 April 1924. On both sides of her family, she had distinguished forebears. Her paternal grandfather was a distinguished judge, knighted for his services to the law. Her mother’s family was of German Jewish origin but had converted to Anglicanism. Her maternal grandfather was a banker, whose wealth subsidised the affluent lifestyle of Mary’s family. He was made a baronet for his services to the Treasury. Her father died before Mary was born. Mary was largely brought up by her nanny, a ‘character’ who had a great influence on her. She was home tutored until the age of nine. Then she attended St. Swithun’s School, Winchester first as a day girl, then a boarder. This was a High Anglican school for girls which put its main emphasis on the development of moral behaviour rather than on academic subjects. She transferred at sixteen to Prior’s Field, a far more liberal school where she flourished, winning the top scholarship to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Before going up to Oxford she spent two terms working as an assistant in a boy’s preparatory school.