Remembering Mary Stevenson (1952–2026)
Everyone at Bowls Scotland is deeply saddened by the passing of Scotland international and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mary Stevenson, who died on Thursday 24 September, aged 74.
A longstanding member of Shanks Bowling Club, Mary represented her club and country with distinction. She will be remembered for her achievements, her character and the joy she brought on and off the green.
Born on 16 August 1952, Mary was from Paisley and worked as a company chauffeur before retiring. She had enjoyed bowls for decades, but when her sight deteriorated, she feared she would have to give up the sport. An introduction to blind bowls gave her the opportunity to continue playing and opened a new chapter in her competitive career.
Mary won the Bowls Scotland Ladies B2/B3 Singles title in 2019, 2022 and 2025. She went on to enjoy international success, winning silver in the visually impaired mixed pairs at the 2024 European Championships alongside Robert Barr and directors Sarah-Jane Ewing and Jim Aitken and proudly represented Scotland as part of the memorable gold winning Home Nations Team in 2025.
The quartet of Mary, Robert, Jim and Sarah continued their success in 2026, securing gold at the Four Nations in Glasgow in May before preparing to represent Scotland at a home Commonwealth Games.
A golden moment in Glasgow
Mary made her Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026, just weeks before her 74th birthday. Her performances helped Scotland reach the Para Mixed Pairs B2/B3 final, with a remarkable bowl in the semi-final against New Zealand leading to commentators crowning her “Mary Queen of Shots”. It was a nickname she wore with enormous pride and one that quickly became synonymous with her Games experience.
On Tuesday 28 July, Mary, Robert, Sarah-Jane and Jim came from behind against England to win gold in a dramatic tie-break at the SEC.
At 73, Mary became the oldest female gold medallist in Team Scotland history. The sight of her celebrating with her teammates on home soil will remain a treasured memory for everyone who followed their success.
For Mary, bowls also provided friendship, conversation and a sense of community. She spoke about the enjoyment of getting out to competitions, meeting others and staying active through the sport.
Only days before her passing, Mary was back representing Scotland at the Para Test Match against Ireland in Ayr on 19–20 September, competing with the same enthusiasm and determination that defined her throughout her bowling career.
Mary's passing has been deeply felt across the bowls family. Whether as a teammate, opponent, friend or supporter, those who knew her will remember a fiercely competitive bowler who never lost sight of what mattered most: enjoying the game, supporting others and sharing good times with friends.
Everyone at Bowls Scotland extends their heartfelt condolences to Mary’s family, friends, fellow members at Shanks BC, teammates and all who knew her.
Funeral arrangements and online viewing
Mary’s funeral service will be held on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 12 noon at Hurlet Crematorium.
For those unable to attend, the service will be available to watch online through Wesley Media:
A recording of the service will be available to watch on demand for seven days afterwards using the same link and PIN. The PIN provides access to both the live webcast and the recording.