Margery Fry

Margery Fry was born in 1874 and throughout her life tried to make a difference.

During the First World War, she travelled throughout Europe, delivering relief to destroyed areas. Margery became interested in the fate of prisoners because of the number of people imprisoned during the war who reported the terrible conditions in prisons to their friends and families.

Margery became one of the first female magistrates in Britain and was also education advisor to Holloway prison. Much of her life was spent influencing the criminal justice system, writing articles, letters and books and speaking at public meetings and on the radio to bring the plight of prisoners to the attention of anyone who would listen.

Even towards the end of her life, Margery was still energetically contributing to the debate about the abolition of the death penalty and criminal justice issues.

Margery died in 1958 after a lifetime of trying to improve the way society deals with offenders, whether before conviction, in prison or after they leave custody.

Fry Housing Trust was named in memory of Margery Fry and continues to maintain her strong beliefs and values. Margery firmly believed that there must be help and support for people leaving prison, and homeless people at risk of offending to give them a chance of rebuilding their lives.