A WOMAN whose decades of service with the British Red Cross saw her made an MBE, has died at the age of 75.

Hexham’s Mary Robinson was well known throughout the district, having worked on the buses as well as in countless hotels and restaurants.

But her true passion was the Red Cross, which she joined at the age of 15.

The only child of Thomas and Mabel Roddam, Mary lived in Carrshield for most of her early life.

When she was 18, she met Maurice Robinson at a dance, and they married in Hexham Abbey in 1963. They moved to Hexham, where Maurice still lives in the house they shared for 56 years. The couple had three daughters – Jacqueline, Michelle, and Allet – and five grandchildren.

Mary dedicated much of her life to helping others. After the death of her mother in the 1970s, she took care of her father in her home until he died in 2000.

She worked for Helping Hands Community Care for 24 years, retiring last year.

Even in her mid-70s, Mary was working 25 to 30 hours per week, starting at 7.30am.

In 2012, she was made an MBE for her services to the Red Cross, which saw her dedicate thousands of hours to people in local communities and raise thousands of pounds, as well as teaching first aid to countless people.

Mary regularly provided first aid at Hexham Racecourse, and in 2004, she was made the first female steward and bailiff of Hexham by the town council.

Her family said Mary’s dedication to others was summed up at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

As the Queen approached, another guest fainted and Mary was the first to help, despite being in the presence of royalty.

Her daughter Allet said: “She was the best mum ever. She didn’t think about herself – she only thought about others.

“People treated her like family. Everybody knew her. She was everyone’s guardian angel and a one in a million lady. If you needed anything, she was there, and not just for her family – for everyone.”