Mary Clegg

Mary Attenborough ( Clegg; 8 April 1896 – July 1961) was a British philanthropist and social activist, the wife of Frederick Attenborough, mother of Richard, David, and John Attenborough, and advocate for safety and education of children. She played a key role in organising and fundraising to ensure the safe reception and care of child refugees arriving in Leicester during the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.

Early life and education Mary Attenborough (née Clegg) was born on 8 April 1896 in New Sawley, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. She was the eldest of six children of Samuel Clegg, later headteacher of The Long Eaton School, and his wife Mary (née Bradshaw).

First World War and interwar period Limited information on Attenborough's activities between 1913 and 1922 suggest she was sympathetic to the suffrage movement, though whether she was active in that movement is not clear. During the First World War she likely volunteered on a farm in the village of Costock.

Second World War Attenborough assisted refugee children arriving in Leicester via the kindertransport in the Second World War.