August 25th 2024.
Meet Mary Weston-Webb, a one-of-a-kind woman who spent much of her youth in the 1970s and 80s being shot out of a cannon. It all started with a simple conversation in the office, 50 years ago. Mary, then just 21 years old and known as Mary Connors, came up with an incredible idea - to be fired out of a cannon across the River Avon.
At first, it may have seemed like a wild and dangerous dream, but Mary turned it into a reality. Little did she know that she would become a pioneer for women all over the world. Although she missed out on becoming the first woman to be blasted across the river, her memories of the experience are still vivid and strong.
In an interview with The Agency, Mary, who was originally from Leicester, shared how she stumbled upon this dangerous hobby by chance. She also revealed that her parents were not too thrilled with her joining the UK's first all-female stunt display group, called the Motobirds, at the age of 19. However, Mary defied their disapproval and moved out to pursue her passion. She even worked as a secretary for Joe Weston-Webb, a showman and the owner of the human cannonball, and eventually married him.
Mary's first cannonball experience took place over the River Avon during the bank holiday weekend in August 1974. She admits feeling terrified as she dove towards the water and ended up landing in it. She explains that she was "bullied" into trying it by her friend Liz, who was the first female to be shot out of a cannon. Originally, a man named Fiery Fred was supposed to do the stunt, but he injured himself during a practice shot. Liz was asked to substitute, but she refused, leaving Mary as the only option. Despite her initial fears, Mary decided to go for it, thinking, "why not? It's something different."
The world record attempt took place on August 25, 1974, on the bank of the River Avon in Tewkesbury. Mary performed the stunt three times over the course of three days, in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. Although she appeared confident on the outside, Mary admits that she was terrified on the inside. She recalls the feeling of the cannon going off and thinking that something had gone wrong. However, she was lucky enough to escape any serious injuries.
Mary's dangerous stunts continued into the mid-1980s, including being blasted across Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium at midnight. She describes the experience as one of the scariest moments of her career. However, her daring stunts did not come without consequences, as she tore her ligaments during a tour in Denmark and had to take a break from performing. Despite the risks, Mary looks back on her career with fond memories, including being shot out of a cannon 12 times in one day and becoming John Cleese's stunt double in a seatbelt advert.
Her husband, Joe, who passed away in 2012, was her partner in both life and business. Together, they specialized in high-end party marquees and even set one up for Sir Elton John. The couple also lived in America for a short while, but returned to the UK after their business was destroyed in a hurricane. Mary's son, who unfortunately passed away from coronavirus, was always proud of her achievements.
Mary believes that her and the other women involved in the Motobirds inspired future generations to take on dangerous sports, such as racing driving. She proudly states that they were trailblazers for women and had to constantly prove their worth. Looking back, Mary is proud to have been a source of inspiration for others, and her legacy continues to live on.
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