Born in Cross Street, Cowes, to Lily and James Mumford, she went to school in the town. She married Gerald Arthur George Snow on July 31, 1948 at St Mary s Church in Cowes. She met her future husband through their parents. Her mother died when Mary was 17, and her father later remarried Gerald s mother. Mrs Snow worked from home for Readers, making lampshades while bringing up their first child, Graham, who was born in 1958. The couple adopted their second child, Nichola, in 1969. Mrs Snow also worked twilight shifts at Fibre Resin making television backs, and worked in their canteen once Graham and Nichola were old enough to attend school.