Funeral procession for former Grangemouth Girls' Brigade captain Mary

Mary Munro (74) sadly died at her home in Brightons on Mothering Sunday, March 14.

Married to husband John for 51 years, Mary had one son, Kenneth and the family grew over the years to include a grandchild, Louise.

Towards the end of her life, when knee problems forced her to use a wheelchair, she was invited down to Buckingham Palace as a tribute to her work with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which was then celebrating its diamond anniversary in 2016.

While she enjoyed rubbing shoulders with royalty and the nation’s top sporting stars, Mary’s main passion was for the Girls’ Brigade.

While she was captain of 1st Grangemouth Girls’ Brigade for over 50 years, her links with the youth organisation go back even further.

Mary first joined Kerse Church Grangemouth Girls’ Guildry in 1954 at the age of six.

A friend had said she wanted to go and asked Mary if she would go with her. And while her friend left the ranks after only a year, Mary remained – for the the next six decades until she retired in 2017.

In 1964, the Guildry in Scotland became the Girls’ Brigade and Mary became an officer in the company.

Talking in 2017, Mary said: “In 1967, Captain Jenny Graham retired and asked me to take over. I was 21 and didn’t think I was capable. I went home and told my dad and he said, ‘you’re beat before you started’.

“So the next week I went back and said I would give it a go. If my dad had been here today, he would have been as proud as punch.”

Mary held the position of captain for the next 50 years.

She also served in Scottish Headquarter Committee, dealing with activities at its camp house at Guay near Balinluig in Perthshire and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Committee.

Mary also served in the local Central Division Committee where latterly she served two terms as Regional Commissioner.

In 2012, Mary was awarded The Falkirk Rotary Citizen Award for her work with young people.

A 1st Grangemouth Girls’ Bridage spokesperson said: “We are heartbroken. Mary dedicated 40 years of her life as captain to our Girls’ Brigade and her legacy will forever live on in our company.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband John, son Kenneth, daughter in law Tracy and granddaughter Louise.”

Girls’ Brigade members past and present, as well as friends and neighbours will be able to line the streets on Thursday when Mary’s funeral cortege travels past Abbotsgrange Parish Church, Grangemouth at 1pm and then Brightons Parish Church at around 1.15pm.

Due to current restrictions only a private funeral service will be held which can only be attended by those the family have been able to invite.

However, the service will be available to view by live stream facility on Thursday at 1.45pm by logging onto www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view and using the ID number 86078 and the password – bkntdxfd.