The NWR Mary Stott Award

Mary Stott was the first and longest serving editor of ‘The Guardian’ newspaper’s Women’s page, and it was under her aegis that ‘The Guardian’ provided a launch pad for the National Housewives Register (NHR), a forerunner organisation of NWR. You can read Mary’s obituary in The Guardian.

Mary Stott was a great supporter and friend to NWR; for 40 years she acted as an informal advisor to our organisation, served as a trustee, and was appointed an Honorary Life Member.

Following Mary’s death in 2002, the NWR Mary Stott Award was founded as a lasting tribute to her contribution to NWR.

Award criteria

The Mary Stott Award is presented annually to a NWR member who has made an exceptional contribution to NWR, her community or a wider initiative. Candidates for the award exemplify exceptional personal development and unswerving commitment to their cause.  If someone having these qualities is not nominated then the award shall not be presented. 

Award prize

NWR Mary Stott Award recipient is presented with a commemorative quaich – a Scottish cup of friendship – which she holds for one year. In addition, the award winner receives a book token prize in acknowledgement of Mary’s work as a journalist, as well as a national conference place and travel expenses to the venue.

Nomination process

Award candidates must be nominated by NWR members, and nominators are asked to submit in writing the reasons for their nomination matching these to the criteria specified (maximum of 500 words). Nominees must give their permission to having their name put forward.

Typically, the Mary Stott Award is made at our annual National Conference, with nominations received in the preceding April. The winner is selected by a trustee along with the National Organiser and a panel comprised of NWR members. Each year, the National Office team promote the Award, the nomination period and deadline for submissions, and the winner and her achievements.