After Dinner Speakers: Mary Archer, Tim Rice, Status Quo

The daughter of a Surrey chartered accountant, Mary Archer nee Weeden was a brilliant academic who gained a PhD, taught at Oxford and then secured a chemistry lectureship at Trinity College, Cambridge. Having married Jeffrey Archer in 1966 she remained out of the public eye until the 1987 Monica Coghlan libel trial transformed her overnight from an anonymous Cambridge academic to a public figure in her own right. Her persona as the unflappable wife during Lord Archer’s libel trial gave her a public platform, which she has admitted she rather enjoyed. Since the court case she has been a castaway on Desert Island Discs, shared her views on Radio 4's Any Questions, produced a CD of Christmas carols, modelled clothes and sung live on television. She became a director of Anglia TV, presenting several programmes, joined the boards of two East Anglian local radio stations, became a trustee of the Science Museum, wrote radio reviews for a Sunday broadsheet and a book on the poet Rupert Brooke. She also took on City appointments, including the Lloyd's hardship committee and a seat on the Anglia Television board. Despite her own high profile career she is perhaps best known for, during 35 years of marriage, showing a public loyalty to her husband that many find astounding. Some have predicted great things for her future, perhaps the headship of an Oxbridge college or the chairmanship of the Arts Council. Much will, in all eventuality, depend on public reaction to her husband's recent conviction. Dr. Mary Archer – a fascinating and controversial public speaker.