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Mary Lines was born in 1893 and attended the Regent Street Polytechnic as a student whilst working as a waitress. Whilst at the Polytechnic she became heavily involved in athletics, her strengths being running and long jump, and became one of the Polytechnic’s most successful athletes. Women gradually started taking part in the Olympic Games from 1900 but unlike men’s athletics, women were not able to compete in track and field events until 1928. Instead, Lines competed at the Women’s Olympiad. At the 1921 Monte Carlo Olympiad she achieved huge success with gold in the 60m, 250m, 4x75m relay, 4x175m relay and long jump. She also got silver in the 800m.

Lines repeated this success at the 1922 Paris Olympiad bringing home gold in the long jump, 300m, and 4x110 yard relay (setting a new world record of 51.4 seconds), and a silver in the 60m. That same year she competed in the first Women’s Amateur Athletic Association Championships in London and became British Champion in the 100 yards, 440 yards, hurdling and long jump.
At the 1924 London Olympiad she won a further three gold medals, this time including the 120 yard hurdles. She then retired from athletics. Mary Lines died in 1978.

Son of Admiral John Leith and Margaret Forbes. Joined the Royal Navy in 1860 as a Lieutenant and served in the New Zealand War 1864-5. Married Mary Louise January of St Louis, USA in 1871. Retired from the Navy and moved to the USA in 1872. Became Secretary, then Treasurer and Manager of the Missouri Furnace Co.. In 1877 reorganised Joliet Iron and Steel Co. and in 1899 reorganised Illinois Steel Co., becoming its President and then Chair.

Created Baron Fyvie in 1905.

In November 1910, Lord Leith of Fyvie promises £30,000 to the Polytechnic Rebuilding Fund to complete the rebuilding works. His donation is for the creation of a memorial to the late King Edward VII and resulted in the dedicating plaque in the foyer in Regent Street and the ornate Fyvie Hall, named in his honour.