02/11/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FMDwvDrX1/?mibextid=wwXIfr
In 1948, a 13-year-old girl from Bath lay in an isolation hospital, too weak to lift her head, while her parents waved at her through the glass.
That girl was Mary Berry. Polio kept her in hospital for months and left her with a curved spine and a weaker left hand she still has today. She has said the experience toughened her up.
This October, nearly eight decades later, Dame Mary was guest of honour at a Rotary Club of Bath fundraising dinner at Camerton Community Hall. Her late brother Roger and her father were both members of the club.
The evening drew 130 guests and raised more than ÂŁ3,300. With the Gates Foundation matching it two-to-one, the total is set to pass ÂŁ10,000 for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign and its worldwide vaccination work.
The frightened girl behind the glass is now helping to spare other children what she went through.
