National treasure Mary has enjoyed a glittering career, gracing our televisions for five decades and selling more than 12 million cookbooks.
Known for loving a good party, Mary says she'll also be indulging in a drop of bubbly to mark her big birthday on Monday. She beams: "There will be cake, and champagne!
"You know, it's a bit hackneyed, but there's nothing better than a Victoria sandwich... It's an act of love, isn't it, baking a cake? It brings people together. It's a celebration."
Married to Paul Hunnings for 59 years, he gifted her a special trinket ahead of the day a bespoke eternity ring. "I never take my rings off," admits Mary, despite her hands-on career in the kitchen.
The pair have enjoyed a beautiful union with Mary sharing the secrets to their happy marriage.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742523956/articles/7mWgAUnnoGN7Rn2J5Csys/1472919257.jpg]
"Respect," begins Mary. "Love, of course, but respect is so important. And I don't count the decades too closely. Also we never raise our voices at each other because, you know, we love each other. If I'm a bit miffed, I very often think, 'Well, I'm not gonna say that right now. I'll go to the greenhouse and do some cuttings."
Advising people to "never go to sleep on a quarrel," she goes on: "Happiness is very, very important, but it can be elusive sometimes. You have to look after it."
Born in Bath in 1935, Mary's long and healthy life got off to a tough start when she was hospitalised for three months with polio aged 13.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742523956/articles/7mWgAUnnoGN7Rn2J5Csys/5194575255.jpg]
Despite being "lucky" to have had a mild infection that mainly affected only one side of her body, one of her hands is still damaged today. "I look a bit funny when I'm rolling pastry, but I have no other difficulties whatsoever," she previously said.
It didn't stop Mary, who has been awarded a damehood and CBE, from forging a hugely successful career.
She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris before becoming food editor at Ideal Home magazine. She has published more than 75 books, including her best-selling Baking Bible in 2009.
Her first book was The Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook in 1970.
Hosting several television series for the BBC, most famously on Bake Off with Paul Hollywood until 2016, her most recent series, Mary's Foolproof Dinners, showed her cooking and conversing with stars such as Alan Carr.
Days before her birthday, Mary looks a picture of health, showing no signs of slowing down. H...
Known for loving a good party, Mary says she'll also be indulging in a drop of bubbly to mark her big birthday on Monday. She beams: "There will be cake, and champagne!
"You know, it's a bit hackneyed, but there's nothing better than a Victoria sandwich... It's an act of love, isn't it, baking a cake? It brings people together. It's a celebration."
Married to Paul Hunnings for 59 years, he gifted her a special trinket ahead of the day a bespoke eternity ring. "I never take my rings off," admits Mary, despite her hands-on career in the kitchen.
The pair have enjoyed a beautiful union with Mary sharing the secrets to their happy marriage.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742523956/articles/7mWgAUnnoGN7Rn2J5Csys/1472919257.jpg]
"Respect," begins Mary. "Love, of course, but respect is so important. And I don't count the decades too closely. Also we never raise our voices at each other because, you know, we love each other. If I'm a bit miffed, I very often think, 'Well, I'm not gonna say that right now. I'll go to the greenhouse and do some cuttings."
Advising people to "never go to sleep on a quarrel," she goes on: "Happiness is very, very important, but it can be elusive sometimes. You have to look after it."
Born in Bath in 1935, Mary's long and healthy life got off to a tough start when she was hospitalised for three months with polio aged 13.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742523956/articles/7mWgAUnnoGN7Rn2J5Csys/5194575255.jpg]
Despite being "lucky" to have had a mild infection that mainly affected only one side of her body, one of her hands is still damaged today. "I look a bit funny when I'm rolling pastry, but I have no other difficulties whatsoever," she previously said.
It didn't stop Mary, who has been awarded a damehood and CBE, from forging a hugely successful career.
She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris before becoming food editor at Ideal Home magazine. She has published more than 75 books, including her best-selling Baking Bible in 2009.
Her first book was The Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook in 1970.
Hosting several television series for the BBC, most famously on Bake Off with Paul Hollywood until 2016, her most recent series, Mary's Foolproof Dinners, showed her cooking and conversing with stars such as Alan Carr.
Days before her birthday, Mary looks a picture of health, showing no signs of slowing down. H...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 21, 2025