Norma Major

She is the daughter of Norman Wagstaff and Edith Johnson, and was born Norma Christina Elizabeth Wagstaff. She was born in Shropshire while her father was stationed there during World War II. He was killed in a motorcycle accident a few days after the end of the Second World War, when Norma was just three years old, and her mother subsequently reverted to using her maiden name, so she was known as Norma Johnson growing up.

The young Norma was educated at a boarding school in Bexhill-on-Sea, Oakfield Preparatory School in Dulwich, and Peckham School for Girls where she was head girl. She was a skilled dressmaker.[1] She was also a member of the Young Conservatives.[1]

At a Conservative Party meeting during the campaign for the 1970 Greater London Council elections, she was introduced to John Major.[1] The couple married on 3 October 1970.

They have a son together, James Major,[2] and a daughter, Elizabeth Major.[3] She kept a low profile during the time her husband was in office as Prime Minister (1990–1997), doing charity work and writing two books, Chequers: The Prime Minister's Country House and its History (1997) and Joan Sutherland: The Authorised Biography (1994).[1]

In June 1999, she was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours, in recognition of her charity work.[1] Major is a supporter of Mencap,[1] and has been credited with helping to raise £6,000,000 for the charity.[4]