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Myra Maisie Marks, known as Maisie, was born into a struggling Jewish family in North London (they were never what they considered poor as they always had food on the table and shoes on their feet), did well in school, and was the first in the family to be admitted to university (the London School of Economics). Unfortunately, she had to leave after one year.

After a few years at different companies, she joined a family-owned advertising company as a shorthand-typist. When she retired, thirty-three years later, she was the owner of that company!

Along the way, she was:
 * Chairman of the London Publicity Club
 * The founding President of the Adwomen
 * A member of the Council of the National Advertising Benevolent Society
 * President of the Surrey Women’s Lodge of B’Nai B’Rith
 * Honored in 1986 by the Queen as a ‘Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) for her professional and charitable work
 * A ballroom dancing teacher
 * The mother of two boys, a grandmother, and the wife of a Chartered Accountant and company Director

The Young Maisie Marks
Maisie was born on October 17th, 1925, the second child and first daughter of Abraham (1890 – 1979, known as Alf) and Dora Marks (1897 – 1971, born Rosenfeld).

Alf was the oldest of eight children, four boys and four girls. Arnold Marks (Maisie’s late husband) remembered: “All were born into a family business concentrating on footwear, including a small factory manufacturing slippers, and three shops in North London selling the manufactured product together with shoes and slippers purchased from other, larger manufacturers.”

Maisie was Alf and Dora’s second child; the first was Aaron, known as Ronnie. He was three years older than Maisie, born in 1922.

Alf managed the Marks Shoes shop at 6 White Conduit Street, off the Chapel Street Market in the Angel area of Islington, London. He, Dora, and Ronnie lived in cramped accommodations above the shop. But when Dora became pregnant with Maisie, she decided that the shop was not a good place to have a baby and they moved temporarily to Claremont Square, around the corner. They moved back to the flat above the shop after Maisie was born.

The Great Depression spread from the US to Britain in 1929. According to Arnold Marks, the fall in demand and the emergence of major chain retail shoe stores (especially Lilly & Skinner and Dolcis) hurt the family business and it went bankrupt.

Maisie was raised as an observant Jew and her family kept kosher. At that time, there was no Bat Mitzvah ceremony for girls, who were not considered in the same way as boys. Maisie learned to read Hebrew and the primary prayers, as well as Jewish history.

Maisie remembers: “I would walk part way to Richard Street school with my brother, 3 years my senior, and then go back home. One day, I decided that I wanted to go to school too, so followed him and refused to go home. After the headmistress and my mother saw my distress, they agreed to let me stay; but at the end of term everyone in the class went “up” but not me – I was now eligible for the baby’s class where in the afternoon you had to collect a small camp bed and blanket (from the side of the room) and put yourself to sleep. I can still remember this well."

She attended that school until she and her mother moved in with her step-grandmother, when she changed to a nearby school. From the age of about 6 to 10, Maisie attended a school on Sigdon Road, about a five-minute walk away. This is a school that was established in 1838 and had various names over the years. As Sigdon Road School, its students were primarily Jewish and it observed Jewish Holy Days.

From 11 to 13, Maisie attended Dalston Central School on Wilton Road.

Life was totally disrupted when war was declared in 1939 (Maisie had almost turned 14). The government decided to evacuate the schoolchildren in “Operation Pied Piper”. In total, as many as 3.5 million children were evacuated, including Maisie. Maisie and her school were sent to Northampton. She was taken in by Frank (aged 51) and Elizabeth (known as Minnie and aged 52) Garrard of 69 The Broadway. Frank was a leather and shoe traveling salesman.

Maisie returned to London in July 1942 when she finished school. The German Blitz on London was still on, but the heaviest bombing had been earlier - between September 1940 and May 1941.

Young adult
Maisie was a few months shy of her 17th birthday when she returned to London. She started work as a personal assistant and shorthand typist for Mr. Joseph in the firm of solicitors, Tamplin, Joseph, Ponsonby, Ride and Co. But she also took advantage of multiple ways to learn.

She met a German student who told her that the London School of Economics (LSE) had evening classes. They were intended primarily for men returning from the war (although they had been held for many years and continued for many more) and the cost was partly covered by the government. She was admitted as one of the 99 women taking evening classes during the 1945-46 session (out of a total of 210) while working for Mr. Joseph during the day. She was studying for a BSc. Economics.

Unfortunately, towards the end of her first year, Maisie had to leave LSE as money was tight for the family. She took a position as the private secretary to Jack Lunzer, owner of Industrial Diamond Company. She only worked there for a year before taking a position with Galil Publishing Company as bookkeeper and general secretary. Galil was the publisher of the Jewish Standard. She worked there for three years until she married in 1948 and moved to Cardiff with Arnold Marks (1925 – 2017).

While they were in Cardiff, which was for about a year, she worked as a shop supervisor at Fletchers’ Cleaners before returning to London.

In 1952, “only working until we get on our feet financially,” she joined the business owned by Reginald Harris. There were a number of companies including Reginald Harris Publications and Newtrin Properties. He also purchased London Diary Publications at a later date.

While the intention was that this was a temporary job, Maisie was with the business for 33 years!

Maisie was initially hired as a shorthand typist for the Company Secretary. (Her official position was Ledger Clerk with Knowledge of Shorthand Typing.) In 1953, she was asked Maisie to take over as Company Secretary.

The company had three sources of income:
 * It sold subscriptions to the London Weekly Diary of Social Events (‘the Diary’), receiving a commission on the sales. Subscriptions to the Diary were purchased by banks, airlines, hotels, restaurants, and others so they could give them to their guests and customers. The content was useful to tourists and others visiting the city. It included details on what was playing in the theaters and music venues, happenings like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and generally how tourists could enjoy their time in London.
 * It also sold “space” in the Diary and received a commission. “Space” refers to the space on a page, which could be a full page in the publication, taken by an advertisement.
 * The company also acted as an agent, selling space in a number of other publications over the years, including: Public Service: National and Local Government Officers’ (NALGO) House Magazine; Power News: Generating Board ; Fire Magazine: Fire Service; Rail News: British Rail; Spread Eagle: Staff Magazine of Barclays Bank; Gibbons Stamp Monthly; Society of Graphic and Allied Trades (SOGAT) Journal

In 1958, Maisie moved up again to Associate Director. She moved up to Director in 1961 and Deputy Managing Director in 1963.

Maisie became Joint Managing Director in 1973 with Trevor Harris, the son of Reginald Harris and owner of the business. When he passed away in 1976, he willed 67% of the company to Maisie and she became Chairman and Managing Director.

She retired and sold the business in 1985, although she stayed on as a director and consultant for another year.

Professional and charitable organizations
Maisie’s climb from short-hand typist to the owner of a profitable business is amazing.

But what led to her recognition by the government and the Queen were her contributions to the profession, its professional organizations and, through those, to charity.

Maisie joined and then became a leader of several clubs and associations.

The Regent Advertising Club  In 1953, she joined the Regent Advertising Club. It was founded in 1923 by students from the Regent Street Polytechnic to help younger people in advertising.

Through the Club, she got involved for the first time with the National Advertising Benevolent Society, discussed further below. She managed the relationship with NABS as Steward.

In 1958, Maisie was awarded the Pemberton Cup for outstanding service. She was runner-up the next year.

The Publicity Club of London  That same year, 1953, Maisie joined the Publicity Club of London. A brochure explains that: "Established in 1913 the Publicity Club of London provides a forum for the exchange of information, news and views on the ever changing business of marketing and communications. It achieves this by bringing together people from advertising, marketing, public relations, market research, publishing, broadcasting, direct response, sales promotion, interactive and other new media to network, to socialize and to hear from leading practitioners in the industry."

Her first position was secretary of the House Committee; over 30 years she served on several other committees and was the Associate Editor of the club’s magazine.

In 1967 she became the club’s Honorary Secretary.

1973 saw her as the organizer of the club’s 60th (Diamond) Jubilee Ball at the Europa Hotel (now the Marriott London Grosvenor Square, but then owned by the Grand Metropolitan Group) in aid of the Peterhouse Endowment Fund of the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS, see further below) and youth scholarships. It was a steak dinner attended by 300 people, with two bands (one of which was the Royal Marines band), a cabaret, and a raffle. She then received a great honor, becoming just the third lady to be chairman of the club in 1974.

The National Advertising Benevolent Society  Maisie worked for NABS for more than 30 years, initially as the NABS Stewart for the Regent Advertising Club.

NABS was “founded in 1913 as the National Advertising and General Benefit and Benevolent Society for the charitable purpose of relieving distress among persons who are or have been engaged in advertising and any persons who are or have been dependent upon any person engaged in advertising'”

From 1971 to 1988, she was a Council Member on the main committee, and served for four years as Publicity Officer before being elected Chairman and Trustee Appointed Member in 1982.

The Adwomen By 1963, Maisie had made a name for herself in the UK advertising community, and with a group of like-minded ladies she founded the Adwomen, “An Association of Women in Advertising, Marketing, & Publicity”. She was the founding Chairman and subsequently chaired several committees and served as Honorary Treasurer.

This is how Maisie captured the story in an article for the Adwomen newsletter on their anniversary: “On a bitterly cold and frosty evening in January 1963, the Adwomen held its first meeting at the Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria. Maisie Marks presented the proposed constitution, aims and objects, programme structure and membership fee, and some 50 members were immediately recruited.

“The meeting ratified Maisie Marks as Chairman, Paddy Carr as Hon. Secretary, Elizabeth Tinker as Hon. Treasurer, and other council members who had offered their services. Meetings were arranged for the second Tuesday of every month, with alternate lunch and evening meetings.

“The aims and objects of the Adwomen were to provide for the exchange of ideas, discussion of mutual problems, and especially to help and encourage the younger women in advertising towards personal development and management positions. To help women become efficient and self-confident without losing their femininity.

“The British Federation of Business and Professional Women accepted our application for membership, and soon we ‘coerced’ their President Lady Davidson to become our President. She was an inspiration to us all: an outstanding politician, clever, efficient and with great feminine charm. Christina Foyle accepted the position of first Vice-President.”

British Federation of Business and Professional Women That same year, she joined the British Federation of Business and Professional Women. For three years, she was the Adwomen’s representative. In 1965, she was the Honorary Secretary, and in 1966 the Federation’s representative to the National Council for Women.

Croydon Advertising Association  In 1969, Maisie joined her local organization, the Croydon Advertising Association. She recalls: “Met someone from the Croydon club who stated they were having problems as the current treasurer was too old; I said “can I help” and found myself joining as the Treasurer. They were very local minded and were paying their speakers. I showed them how top people from the communication world would give presentations with perhaps a nibble and drink thrown in at no cost. I brought London club experience to the club. I was invited to be Vice-Chairman the next year. In my year, The Advertisers Weekly provided the awards for the Croydon Challenge when three local Agencies and 3 publishers competed with the Croydon Branch of the Institute of Marketing on general knowledge and advertising subjects.

In 1970, she was made Honorary Treasurer, and in the next year she was their first female chairman.

Advertising Association The Advertising Association was the premier organization for those in advertising, with organizations like the Croydon Association, the Adwomen, and the Publicity Club associated with it. They had a committee, the Clubs Development committee, that helped member organizations. Maisie represented the three organizations named above to the Advertising Association.

In 1969, she became a member of the Clubs committee, and the next year she organized their Clubs Conference. It was held in Croydon at the Fairfield Hall, where she was the local association chairman. In 1971, she was the chairman of the Southeast Region Clubs Committee.

B'nai B'rith As if this was not enough for Maisie with all these professional-related associations, she was also an active member of B’Nai B’Rith.

B’Nai B’Rith UK explains: “B’nai B’rith is an international organisation, which brings together Jews from all backgrounds, with the aims of strengthening the Jewish community, combating racial and religious intolerance, and helping the less fortunate.

“B'nai B'rith is not a religious organisation but one that exists to unite all Jews, regardless of their affiliation for the common good. Our membership spans the whole Jewish community.

“B'nai B'rith translates from the Hebrew to mean “Children of the Covenant”. This refers to the Covenant between G-d and Abraham who was the first Jew.

“It is the oldest Jewish service organisation, founded in New York in 1843 by 12 German Jewish immigrants and since then generations of Jewish people around the world have been helping others in need through their membership and activities. It now operates in 59 countries and has official status at the UN as an NGO and we are represented at the EU in Brussels. B’nai B’rith is a powerful voice for Jewish security and continuity and is respected all over the world as “The Global Voice of the Jewish People”.

“Since our foundation the symbol of B'nai B'rith has been the menorah. Each branch represents the seven principles of B'nai B'rith: “Benevolence, Brotherly and Sisterly Love, Harmony, Truth, Peace, Light and Justice”.

“BBUK comes under the overall umbrella of B’nai B’rith International based in Washington.

“We operate as a network of Lodges or Groups each with its own programme of diverse activities tailored to the interests of the group. These can include discussions, speakers, theatre outings, dining groups, rambles, cultural visits and musical events. Each Lodge/Group has a President/Chairman and an organising committee, which arranges the programme and looks after the finances. Members pay an annual subscription, which is passed to BBUK head office and funds raised for charitable projects go directly to charity via the head office.”

She joined in 1970 and was the Honorary Secretary of the Surrey Women’s Lodge for the next two years. She was Vice President in 1972-3 and 1974 saw her elevated to President, a position she held through 1977.

Maisie Marks, MBE
Between 1983 and 1985, a number of prominent individuals joined in recommending Maisie for recognition by Buckingham Palace. They included: Maisie was made an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1986.
 * The Rector of St. Brides, Prebendary Dewi Morgan
 * Sir Ralph Perring, 1st Baronet, chairman of Perring Furnishings, Ltd, President of the Publicity Club of London, and former Lord Mayor of London
 * George Bogle, CBE, founder and Chairman of the Advertising Standards Board of Finance, Director of Reed International Ltd, and President of the National Advertising Benevolent Society
 * Archie Pitcher, CBE, President of Ogilvy & Mather, President of the International Advertising Association, Vice President Emeritus of the History of Advertising Trust, and recipient of the Mackintosh Medal for “outstanding personal and public service to advertising”
 * Sir Ronald Halstead, CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Beecham Group
 * Roger Underhill, Director General of the Advertising Association

By tradition, these honors are announced on either the Queen’s birthday or New Year’s Day in a supplement to the London Gazette. Maisie’s was announced in the 1985 New Year Honours on the 31st of December 1985.

Family Life
Maisie and Arnold have two sons: Norman David Marks, born in 1951, and Laurence D. Marks (Daniel), born in 1954. She has one grandson, David Gareth Marks, born in 1984.