Mari Palmer was brought up in Muirkirk, Ayrshire, the elder daughter of Tommy Palmer and Marion Gray.   Her sister is Helen.

She attended Muirkirk Primary and Secondary schools, where in the latter she was Head Girl Prefect.   She was an incredibly active person, a born leader (as people still find!).   A very fit and effective cross country runner - a fiend on the school's motor bike - very active in the local church's Youth Fellowship and in Scripture Union mission teams.

Mari chose to leave school and go into the local firm of Muirtex, while continuing her education at evening classes.   Later she became the civilian clerkess at Muirkirk Police Office, with regular duties also at the Cumnock office 10 miles away.

In 1971 she met Robert whom she married two years later and is still married to him 35 years later!! They have two sons, Melville and Robin and live in East Kilbride.

After spending the first year of married life in Muirkirk, Mari and Robert moved to Wick (Caithness) where Mari worked in the local Careers Office placing young people into jobs. A move to Oban coincided with the birth of our first son, Melville, as which time Mari became a full-time mother. Four years later the family moved to Carmunnock (Glasgow) where Robin was born. Still a full-time mother, Mari kept herself active, getting involved in the local nursery and school, leading the formation of the school's Parents' Association and helping with musical activities.

Mari now keeps herself busy by helping in Robert's Internet business and by charity work helping children and others in a small village in Ukraine.