Mildred Mary Nevile

Mildred Mary Nevile MBE (1927 – 2012) was a lifelong Catholic activist against poverty and injustice. She led what was then the Catholic Institute for International Relations to focus its work on alleviating poverty.

Life Nevile was born on 2 July 1927 at Wellingore Hall, her family's large house in Wellingore in Lincolnshire. She was the fourth of the six children of Muriel Margaret (born O'Conor) and Charles Joseph Nevile (1883–1930). Her father worked for the Sudan political service. Her elder brother was Henry Nevile who became Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. Born at Wellingore Hall. The family's chapel is visible through the gates. She had no early higher education and in 1958 she joined the Sword of the Spirit on a part-time basis. This organisation had been created during World War Two and it had evolved into a body working with the United Nations Association and the Council for Education in World Citizenship trying to encourage students to know about global affairs. It leased a building in Regent's Park because the landlords just wanted it occupied. In the winter they sometimes worked in overcoats because the boiler was not repaired. At the beginning of 1967 Nevile became the secretary-general of the CIIR and she proposed change. She championed the idea that they would concentrate on the development required to end poverty in the world. Former causes such as anti-racism and world peace could be left to other organisations. She believed that the institution had to show solidarity with the countries that they were working with to encourage their participation. In 1985 she also decided her priorities lay elsewhere and she left the CIIR and went on to take a degree at Leeds University.

Nevile had been a strong supporter of CAFOD and she was a trustee for twenty years. She is credited with advising Julian Filochowski to cut their advertising budget and to instead establish regional offices.

She died 2 September 2012.