Mary Somerville (broadcasting executive)

Mary Somerville was born in New Zealand on 1 November 1897, as the eldest daughter of the Reverend James Alexander Somerville and his wife Agnes Fleming. She was raised in Scotland, and attended Somerville College, where she completed an English degree. ==BBC career==

In 1929, Somerville was named Director of School Broadcasting, a position which she held until 1947. Somerville worked hard to ensure that BBC school broadcasting was held to high academic standards and was seen as a legitimate enterprise, fighting against skeptics who considered radio to be good for entertainment only. She was the first woman controller of a BBC division. ==Personal life==

Somerville was married to journalist Ralph Penton Brown from 3 July 1928 to 1945, when the marriage was dissolved. She had one son with John Freeman. She was allowed to maintain her position at BBC after her marriage as the BBC's marriage bar, enacted in 1933, allowed women of exceptional value to remain with the Corporation. The marriage bar stated that "the retention of women after marriage is to be regarded as the exception," and Somerville was deemed to have the exceptional qualities required. In 1935, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her efforts. and The New York Times. A forty-minute commemorative programme was broadcast by the BBC Home Service on 31 May 1964. ==References==