Calls for Aberdeen arts venues to celebrate the city’s opera superstar

Calls have been made for Aberdeen arts bosses to do more to honour an opera legend who paid for wounded soldiers to attend shows at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Mary Garden was born in the Granite City and rose to global fame in the early 20th Century, appearing on the front of Time magazine and even starring in silent pictures.

But she ended her days back in her hometown, a figure of mild curiosity doing her shopping on Union Street while dressed in the sort of finery rarely seen in post-war Britain.

By the time she died in 1966, aged 92, the woman who made millions in her lifetime was broke.

Some attribute her penniless state to the generosity she displayed in her twilight years, which included paying for injured servicemen to take in shows.

Historian, playwright and Mary Garden superfan Mike Gibb has been on a crusade to put Mary back in the spotlight.

Mike was disappointed the link between the star and HMT was not honoured when it came time to decide on a name for the new-look dining space there.

But it has reignited his desire to raise the profile of the 1874-born diva.

The writer said: “I’ve been fascinated by the idea that while renowned in Europe and America, she’d come back to Aberdeen and everybody would walk past her.

“She had such a sad ending to an amazing life, and it remains a shame there’s so little here.

“Mary was so big – I don’t think there’s anybody more famous to have come from Aberdeen.

“I’ve pressed Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) before, but it really would be brilliant if they could do something lasting to honour her in one of our arts venues.”

It comes after the Mary Garden Room at Aberdeen Music Hall was dumped when it was revamped a few years ago.

And with the name of The Terrace now set, along with the interior design, APA says naming the new HMT restaurant after Mary Garden is “not an option”.

But the body has pledged to keep the singer in mind for any future projects.

A spokeswoman said: “We acknowledge the amazing achievements of Mary Garden and her remarkable career, and have given recognition to that through events in our programme in the past.

“We are happy to consider how we could further celebrate Mary.”

Mike has been backed by Cameron Garden, a 42-year-old descendant of the singer.

Cameron and his nineyear-old daughter, Jessica, were in the audience for a talk Mike gave at Aberdeen Central Library.

And while Mary may be largely forgotten in her home town, Jessica is doing her very best to keep her memory alive, telling her young classmates all about her famous relation.

Cameron, whose granddad was Mary’s nephew, added: “There really should be more done.

“We should recognise people like her, who have come from the city.”

Cameron and Jessica were among about 30 people who braved a stormy November night to attend, with Mike showing a short film about Mary Garden before answering questions on the singer.

Photo by Paul Glendell. FORGOTTEN DIVA: Historian Mike Gibb gave a moving and entertaining talk on Mary’s life.