Mary Cuningham Chater

Mary Chater was born in Strawberry Hill, Middlesex on 14 January 1896. She was the third child of Jessie and Leathley Chater. Her father was a glass and lead merchant, the secretary of the London Plate Glass Merchants' Association and a first-class cricketer.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/leathley-chater-11101 |title=Leathley Chater |author= |website=www.espncricinfo.com |publisher=ESPN Sports Media Ltd. |access-date=2021-09-21}} Her mother, Jessie Chater, née Bedwell was chair of Littlehampton's District Nursing Association.{{cite news |date= 1949-09-15 |newspaper=West Sussex Gazette, Chichester |title=Littlehampton, Death of Mrs Chater |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002166/19490915/352/0012 |location=Chichester, U.K. |page=12 |access-date=2021-09-21|quote=The death occurred on Sunday of Mrs. Jessie Chater (84) at Elmer, St. Winefride's-rd}} Chater was baptized on 22 February 1896.The Green, Richmond Upon Thames Parish Register (1896) Holy Trinity, Twickenham, No. 1582, p198

Her eldest brother Alfred Dougan Chater was wounded at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915; Chater, aged 19, and her mother travelled to Wimereux to visit him in hospital whilst the war continued to the north. One evening she entertained the troops by playing "tunes from London shows, popular ballads and 'Your King and Your Country', a great favorite with the men"{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1991 |title=Music and Words |location=Girlguiding Norfolk County Archive Resource Centre (ARC), Coltishall, Norfolk |pages=12–13}} on the piano. Her other brother was Guy Leathley Chater (1892 – 1974), a Major in the 1st Norfolk Regiment.{{cite magazine |last=Lamb |first=Peter |date=Summer 2014 |title=Peter's Hunt for Heroes Continues |url=https://www.shra.org.uk/Bulletin155.pdf |magazine=The Bulletin, Strawberry Hill Residents' Association, No. 155 |location=Strawberry Hill, London |publisher=Strawberry Hill Residents' Association |page=4 |access-date=2021-09-21}}

After her father retired in 1927, the family relocated to Littlehampton, West Sussex where they became heavily involved with St James Church.{{cite news |date= 1949-09-15 |newspaper=West Sussex Gazette, Chichester |title=Littlehampton, Death of Mrs Chater |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002166/19490915/352/0012 |location=Chichester, U.K. |page=12 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=For many years Miss Chater was organist and her father warden at St James'.}}

Chater met Cicely Bertha Hale, Girl Guide leader, suffragette, health visitor and author (1884 – 1981) in 1947. They lived together in Littlehampton from 1950 – 1965, and after that lived next door to each other until Hale's death in 1981.{{cite book |author= |date= 2004-09-23 |title=Hale, Cicely Bertha, (1884-1981) suffragette and health visitor |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/search?q=cicely+hale&searchBtn=Search&isQuickSearch=true |publisher=Oxford University Press}} In old age, Chater moved to Kenwith Nursing Home.{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1991 |title=Music and Words |publisher=Girlguiding Norfolk County Archive Resource Centre (ARC), Coltishall, Norfolk |page=1}}

Brought up in a musical household - her uncle wrote songs and her mother played the piano and sang - Chater learned the piano from the age of seven. At ten she began to learn the church organ and started composing. She became adept at playing by ear.

She entered Durham University as an unattached student{{cite web |url=https://libguides.durham.ac.uk/c.php?g=684731&p=4890609 |title=Archives and Special Collections: Durham University Records: History. DU in Durham |author= |website=www.libguides.durham.ac.uk |publisher= Durham University |access-date=2021-09-21}} to read music in 1919 where her professor was Joseph Cox Bridge and her examiners included Edward Bairstow. She graduated with a B.Mus in December 1923. During this time she studied viola and composition with the string instrumentalist, organist, author, teacher, composer, inventor of the violinda{{cite episode |title=Kids violins aka violinda |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/kids-violins-aka-violinda |series=New Sound Pictorials |network= British Pathe |date=1940-01-25 |quote=John Brown teaches children music with his invention the violinda which is a small violin.}} and water-colourist John Hullah Brown (1875 – 1973).{{cite web |url=https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Brown_JohnHullah_1875 |title=John Hullah Brown |author=W.B. Henshaw |website=www.organ-biography-info |access-date=2021-09-21}}

Chater went on to study at the Royal College of Music from 1926 to 1929,Royal College of Music, London: Prospectus, 1928. Special Scholarships and Exhibitions. p37 earning an L.R.C.M. Her principal study was composition, under Herbert HowellsRoyal College of Music, London Archives; Students' Study Register, 1921 – 31, A-D. RCM00208 and her second studies were conducting, under William Henry Reed, Malcolm Sargent and Adrian Boult, orchestration under Gordon Jacob and score reading.

In 1926, Chater was awarded part of the Signor Foli Scholarship, awarded to composition students of at least one year's standing. In 1929 some of her Variations were performed by the Patrons' Fund Orchestra under Adrian Boult.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Royal College of Music |magazine= The Musical Times |edition=Vol. 70 No. 1031 |publisher=Musical Times Publications Ltd |date=July 1929 |page=78}}

Chater worked as a music teacher, singer,{{cite news |date= 1938-03-18 |newspaper=Kent & Sussex Courier |title=The Music Festival, Visit of Oboe Player of World Repute |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19380318/357/0013 |location= Royal Tunbridge Wells U.K. |page=13 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater has also been engaged to sing folk songs at the children's concert on the opening day.}}{{cite news |date= 1938-03-25 |newspaper=Kent & Sussex Courier |title=Whispered Words Cure Lazy Lips, unique exercise for school choirs |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19380325/197/0007 |location=Royal Tunbridge Wells U.K. |page=7 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=perhaps the most enjoyable moments were provided by Mary Chater, the well-known singer of folk songs.}} conductor,{{cite news |date=1945-10-24 |newspaper=Mid Sussex Times |title=T.G. Music Festival |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001598/19451024/179/0008?browse=False |location= Royal Tunbridge Wells U.K. |page=8 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=the singing was stated by Miss Mary Chater, Mus.Bac., the conductor, to be extraordinarily high.}}{{cite news |date=1946-05-10 |newspaper=Sussex Agricultural Express |title=Women's Institute Choirs, Return to Lewes |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000656/19460510/209/0008 |location=Lewes, U.K. |page=8 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Littlehampton (Miss Chater)}} and conducting tutor.1939 England and Wales Register. E.D. Letter Code EMGI, U.D. Littlehampton, Registration District and Sub District 84/2{{cite magazine |author= |title=Miscellaneous |magazine=The Musical Times |edition= Vol. 95, No. 1335|publisher=Musical Times Publications Ltd |date=May 1954 |page=271}}{{cite magazine |author= |title=Conducting Course |magazine=The Musical Times |edition=Vol. 106, No. 1469 |publisher=Musical Times Publications Ltd |date=July 1965 |page=493}}

From 1942 to 1944 she took charge of Rosemead School, Littlehampton, which, due to its location on the south coast, had become a garrison town{{cite web |url=http://www.littlehamptonfort.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/The-Defence-of-Littlehampton-in-the-Second-World-War.pdf |title=The Defence of Littlehampton in the Second World War |last=Greenwood |first=Hilary |date=November 2013 |website=www.littlehamptonfort.co.uk |page=31 |access-date=2021-09-21}} with empty houses, buildings and schools serving as lodgings for billeted servicemen. She and a small staff looked after around forty day pupils,{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1991 |title=Music and Words |location=Girlguiding Norfolk County Archive Resource Centre (ARC), Coltishall, Norfolk |page=24}} sharing their school facilities with the army. She ran the school's choir and Brownie pack.{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Patricia |date=2000 |title=Rosemead: Memories of a School |location= |publisher=Gresham Books Ltd |page=35 |isbn=0-946095-37-X}}

She served as a justice of the peace for the Arundel Bench{{cite news |date=1955-04-08 |newspaper=Littlehampton Gazette |title=Sailors were 'skylarking,' stole a lamp |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001927/19550408/016/0001 |location= Littlehampton, U.K. |page=1 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater presiding, said: "We consider you acted very foolishly and were discovered."}}{{cite news |date=1955-09-23 |newspaper=Littlehampton Gazette |title=Bird flew in the face of the law |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001927/19550923/022/0002 |location= Littlehampton, U.K. |page=2 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater, a magistrate, drew the chairman's attention to the blue-tit}} from 1945 – 1961.

Chater joined the Girl Guide movement in 1921 whilst living in Strawberry Hill when she became captain of 1st Fulwell Guide company, Middlesex.{{cite magazine |date=September 1961 |author= |title=Miss Mary Chater |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLVIII No. 9 |publisher=Girl Guide Association |page=262}} Of this, she wrote, "Guiding was an activity completely alien to my mind and capacity. I was impractical, unobservant and rather antipathetic to organisations. However… I was soon well and truly hooked. As my brother Guy said, 'This will either be the making of Mary or the ruin of the Girl Guides.'"{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1991 |title=Music and Words |location=Girlguiding Norfolk County Archive Resource Centre (ARC), Coltishall, Norfolk |page=25}}

During her Guiding career she was a Guide Captain, Ranger Captain, Camp Advisor and District{{cite news |date=1955-06-10 |newspaper=Littlehampton Gazette |title=Guides' rally |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001927/19550610/038/0002 |location= Littlehampton, U.K. |page=2 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=As a finale a large camp fire will be lighted and the Guides will sing their camp songs under the direction of Miss Mary Chater, of Littlehampton, who is Commissioner of the East Chichester Division}} and Division Commissioner for Littlehampton from 1935 to 1946.{{cite magazine |last=HGS |date=November 1990 |title=Obituary |magazine=Guiding Magazine |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=48}} In 1935, she became assistant to the Association's Commissioner for Music and Drama, Kitty Streatfeild.

From 1949 -1961 Chater held the position of Music Advisor, Commonwealth Headquarters, Girl Guide Association.{{cite web |url=https://lesliesguidinghistory.webs.com/music-arts |title=The Arts in Guiding: Singing |last=Smith |first=Leslie |website=www.lesliesguidinghistory.webs.com |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Music Advisers were appointed to encourage singing within Guiding, and to promote 'appropriate repertoire', prominent among these being Mary Chater}} In this role she travelled extensively, produced song collections,{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Hettie |date=1974 |title=Girl Guide Song Book 1 |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=4}} composed original music for special occasions, tested music instructors, adjudicated festivals,{{cite news |date=1947-04-05 |newspaper=Staffordshire Advertiser |title=Guides' camp fire festival |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000252/19470405/197/0008 |location= Stafford, U.K. |page=8 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater (headquarters commissioner for music) was the adjudicator}} gave talks,{{cite news |date=1949-11-14 |newspaper=Bradford Observer |title=Princess Royal is proud of Guides' good discipline |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19491114/116/0005|location= Bradford, U.K. |page=5 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=An address on "Music in Guiding" was given by Miss Mary Chater, Imperial Commissioner for Music}} accompanied church ceremonies and led campfires.

Musical highlights included conducting the singing at the All-England Ranger Rally at the Royal Albert Hall in 1946,{{cite magazine |last=Harris |first=R. |date=July 1946 |title=Rally, Albert Hall |magazine=Bedfordshire Girl Guides Magazine |location=Bedford |publisher=Bedfordshire Girl Guides |page=6}} leading 10,000 people in song around a campfire at WAGGGS' 13th World Conference in Oxford, England in 1950{{cite news |date=1950-07-24 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=World Conference of Girl Guides Concert of English Music |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259432799/?terms=The%20guardian%20mary%20chater&match=1|location= London, U.K. |page=7 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=a concert of English music under the direction of Miss Mary Chater, Commissioner for Music.}} and playing the organ in both St George's Chapel, Windsor and the Royal Albert Hall. She led the singing on board the frigate Foudroyant for Princess Margaret in 1950{{cite news |date=1950-05-20 |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |title=Splice Main-Brace – only in Cocoa |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19500520/125/0008 |location= Portsmouth, U.K. |page=20 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=The singing was led by Miss Mary Chater (Head-quarters Commissioner for Music)}} and served as Music Advisor on the Girl Guides' Golden Jubilee Committee in July 1960.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Jubilee Committee |magazine=The Girl Guide's Golden Jubilee Birthday Festival Souvenir Programme |publisher=Girl Guides Association |date=July 1960 |page=27}}

In 1953, she visited Canada{{cite news |date=1952-07-12 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |title=1200 Girl Guides here Monday for 11-day stay' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457159767/?terms=ottawa%20citizen%20mary%20chater&match=1 |location= Ottawa, Canada |page=13 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater, B.Mus,. music adviser to the Girl Guides Association in Great Britain and an experienced choral leader, composer and writer}} to direct the music for their National Camp{{cite news |date=1952-07-19 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |title=Picturesque Pageantry in Provincial Parade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457166337/?terms=ottawa%20citizen%20mary%20chater&match=1 |location= Ottawa, Canada |page=3 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Judges for the competition are Miss Mary Chater}}{{cite news |date=1952-07-21 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |title=Girl Guides services held at "Rangers" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457167814/?terms=ottawa%20citizen%20mary%20chater&match=1 |location=Ottawa, Canada |page=5 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Miss Mary Chater conducted the gathering in a period of singing, which concluded the service.}} for which she wrote a "well received"{{cite news |date=1952-07-25 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |title=1,200 Girl Guides end camp with huge bonfire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457170529/?terms=ottawa%20citizen%20mary%20chater&match=1 |location=Ottawa, Canada |page=18 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=A special number written by Miss Chater describing her impressions of the ten day camp was well received by the large gathering.}} song about her experiences whilst there, and also directed the music as part of a "colourful pageant".{{cite news |date=1952-07-16 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |title=Visitors take part in tour of the past |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457164233/?terms=ottawa%20citizen%20mary%20chater |location=Ottawa, Canada |page=15 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Singing was under the leadership of Miss Mary Chater, music commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Great Britain.}} When visiting Doe Lake, Ontario's Guiding training centre, she fell and broke her arm. The leaders named one of the buildings Chater House.{{cite web |url=https://www.girlguides.ca/web/ON/Adult_Members/ON/Adult_Members/Property_Bookings/Camps/Doe_Lake.aspx |title=Doe Lake |author= |website=www.girlguides.ca |publisher= |access-date=2021-09-09}} She also visited Guides in Montreal as part of her trip.{{cite news |date=1952-06-27 |newspaper=The Gazette |title=Facts and Fancies |author=Hill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/419538077/?terms=gazette%20mary%20chater&match=1 |location=Montreal, Canada |page=18 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Mary Chater, J.P, music adviser for Great Britain, now visiting Canada, will be a guest of the Montreal area.}}

In 1951 she received the Silver Fish Award, Guiding's highest adult award, for her role of Music Advisor.{{cite magazine |date=January 1951 |author= |title=Awards |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVIII No. 1 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=13}} She was also awarded an MBE for services to Guiding in 1962.{{cite magazine |author= |date=1961-12-19 |title=Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |magazine=Supplement to the London Gazette |location=London, U.K. |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42552/page/16/data.pdf |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |page=16}}

Chater edited and compiled the following songbooks, the vast majority published by the Girl Guides Association:

• The First Book of Camp Fire Songs (1944){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1944 |title=The First Book of Camp Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• Fireside Songs in Two Parts: Traditional Tunes for Unaccompanied Equal Voices (1945){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1945 |title=Fireside Songs in Two Parts |location=London |publisher=A&C Black}}
• A Baker's Dozen: 13 Singing Games for Brownies (1947){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1947 |title=A Baker's Dozen: 13 Singing Games for Brownies |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• A Brownie's Day (1948) with Joy Faulkner{{cite book |last1=Chater |first1=Mary |last2=Faulkner |first2=Joy |date=1948 |title=A Brownie's Day |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• Overseas: Songs from the British Commonwealth and Empire (1949){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1949 |title=Overseas: Songs from the British Commonwealth |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• International Songs (1950){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1950 |title=International Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• More Fireside Songs in Two Parts: Traditional Tunes for Unaccompanied Voices (1953){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1953 |title=More Fireside Songs in Two Parts: Traditional Tunes for Unaccompanied Voices |location=London |publisher=A&C Black}}
• A Brownie's Dozen: 14 Singing Games and Songs (1955){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1955 |title=A Brownie's Dozen: 14 Singing Games and Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• The Sol-fa Songbook for Guides (1956){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1956 |title=The Sol-Fa Songbook for Guides |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• Centenary Souvenir Song Book (1957){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1957 |title=Centenary Souvenir Song Book |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• The Second Book of Campfire Songs (1961){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1961 |title=The Second Book of Campfire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• Graces and Vespers (1962) with Tirzah Barnes{{cite book |last1=Chater |first1=Mary |last2=Barnes |first2=Tirzah |date=1962 |title=Graces and Vespers |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}
• Singing Games from Far and Near (1966){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1966 |title=Singing Games from Far and Near |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}}

She also authored two books, Music through Guiding Part 1 (1951){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1951 |title=Music through Guiding Part 1 |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}} and Pathway Over the Hill: The Elements of Guiding (1966){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1966 |title=The Pathway Over The Hill: The Elements of Guiding |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association}} and contributed the music notes for A Collection of Christmas plays for Guides and Brownies (1961) by Anne Fairtlough{{cite news |date=1952-04-01 |newspaper=Western Mail |title=Newbridge Theatre Revelation |author=Twm O’r Nant |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000104/19520401/099/0004?browse=False |location= Cardiff, Wales |page=4 |access-date=2022-01-19 |quote=Glamorgan Drama League’s Easter School of Drama at Glan-y-Mor, Mine, movement and speech (Mrs. Anne Fairtlough)}} and Eileen Peake.{{cite news |date=1955-10-01 |newspaper=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |title=Guides win cup again |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19550110/227/0008 |location= Leeds, England |page=8 |access-date=2022-01-19 |quote=Miss Eileen Peake, sister of Mr. Osbert Peake, Minister of Pensions, who is the assistant extension adviser for handicapped Girl Guides in England}}

• Laura{{cite news |date=1950-05-20 |newspaper=Littlehampton Gazette |title=Choral competitions: Some Littlehampton successes |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001926/19310327/098/0006 |location= Littlehampton, U.K. |page=6 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Rosemead, Littlehampton ("Laura," Mary Chater}}
• The Chief (1956) written for the centenary of BP's birth in 1956{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1957 |title=Centenary Souvenir Song Book |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=6}}{{cite magazine |author= |title=Guiders' Conference |magazine=Matilda |edition=Vol.XXXVI – No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |location= Melbourne, Australia |date=September 1957 |page=5}}
• Guide Marching Song (1948){{cite news |date=1950-05-26 |newspaper=Bury Free Press |title=2,000 will sing song |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000762/19500526/284/0020 |location= Bury St Edmunds, U.K. |page=20 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=Conducted by Miss Matthew, the Guides practiced singing together the Marching Song composed for the movement by Miss Mary Chater, Guide Commissioner for Music}} appeared on the 1971 BBC album 'Singing Along with the Girl Guides'{{cite AV media |people=Chater, Mary |date=1971 |title=Guide Marching Song |trans-title=Singing along with the Girl Guides Songs and Music from Many Countries, conducted by Hettie Smith |type=Mono LP 33.3 RPM |format= |location=London |publisher=BBC}}
• Ranger Song (1948){{cite book |author= |date=2007 |title=Something Old, Something New |location=Norwich, UK |publisher= Girlguiding Anglia |page=54}}
• A Country Song (1948){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1961 |title=The Second Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=24}}
• Mighty Lord and Saviour (1954)
• Trefoil Song{{cite web |url=http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk/pageants/1139/ |title=Wiltshire North Girl Guides' Pageant, The Redress of the Past |last1=Bartie |first1=Angela |last2=Fleming |first2=Linda |last3=Freeman |first3=Mark |last4=Hulme |first4=Tom |last5=Hutton |first5=Alex |last6=Readman |first6=Paul |website=www.historicalpageants.ac.uk |location=London |access-date=2021-09-21}}
• Sussex Campfire Opening{{cite book |author= |date=1978 |title=Out Chalet Song Book |location=Adelboden, Switzerland |publisher=Girl Scouts of the USA |page=7}}
• St Patrick's Breastplate{{cite book |last=Prior |first=Marion |date=2007 |title=Songs for All Sorts |location=Norwich, UK |publisher=Girlguiding Anglia |page=24}}
• Carillon{{cite book |last=Prior |first=Marion |date=2007 |title=Songs for All Sorts |location=Norwich, UK |publisher=Girlguiding Anglia |page=44}}
• Foxlease Vesper{{cite book |last1=Crane |first1=Ruth |last2=Gentry |first2=Mary |last3=Prior |first3=Marion |date=1995 |title=Meet and Sing |location=Norwich |publisher=Girlguiding Anglia |page=83}}
• A Royal Round{{cite book |author= |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=22}}
• A Short Grace{{cite book |author= |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=25}}
• Tony O! (words: Colin Francis){{cite book |author= |title=Camp Fire Songs No. 11 |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=3}}
• What is this life (words: W.H. Davies){{cite book |author= |title=Camp Fire Songs No. 11 |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=11}}
• Ships{{cite book |author= |title=Camp Fire Songs No. 11 |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=7}}
• The North Countree (round in 3 parts){{cite book |date=1934 |title=Kent County Song Book |location=Sevenoaks, Kent |publisher=Novello and Company Limited |page=4}}
• Serve God Daily (text: Sir John Hawkins, 1532 - 1595){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1961 |title=The Second Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=42}}
• The Queen's Grace (text: George Belling, 1585){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=22}}
• A Brownie's Day (words: Joy Faulkner){{cite book |author= |title=The Sol-Fa Song Book for Guides |date=1956 |location=London |publisher=The Girl Guides Association |page=14}}
• The Jubilee Song (1960){{cite AV media | people=Chater, Mary | date=1960 | title=Jubilee Song | trans-title = Band of the W.R.A.C conducted by Major McDowall | type=7" single | location=London | publisher=Regent Sound Ltd}} marking the 50th anniversary of the creating of Girl Guides was recorded by the Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC),{{cite report |title=Music: The Girl Guides Association Annual Report 1960 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |date=1960-12-31 |page=20}} an all-female military band, conducted by Major McDowall and was privately released by the GGA as a 7" single.

• Festival Song (1947) tune: an old French carol. Written for the International Folk Dance Festival with accompaniment by Gustav Holst{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1950 |title=International Songs |url= |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=8}}
• Tuoll on mun kultani (My Sweetheart) from Finnish into English.{{cite AV media |people=Chater, Mary |date=1971 |title=My Sweetheart |trans-title=Singing along with the Girl Guides Songs and Music from Many Countries, conducted by Hettie Smith |type=Mono LP 33.3 RPM |format= |location=London |publisher=BBC}}
• Meunier tu dors (The Miller Sleeps) French into English{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1961 |title=The Second Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=3}}

Chater had strong feelings about the quality of many vocal arrangements where "alto parts are too often a dreary shuffle from one note to the next and back again, while descants tend to become too elaborate and to smother the air".{{cite magazine |title=Fireside Songs in Two Parts |author= |magazine= The Musical Times |edition= Vol. 87, No. 1240 |publisher=Musical Times Publications Ltd |date=June 1946 |page=166}} She set about writing her own arrangements, which appeared in her own and many other songbooks of the era. Arrangements included:

• Lilliburlero (1936) Pub: OUP Archive{{cite web |url=https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/composers/35974/browse |title=Chater, Mary (composer) |author= |website= www.prestomusic.com |publisher=Presto Classical Ltd |access-date=2021-09-01 }}{{cite news |date=1967-04-21 |newspaper=Chelsea News and General Advertiser |title=Praise – and a tip - for the Singing Seniors |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003306/19670421/049/0004 |location= Chelsea, U.K. |page=4 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=and were very good indeed when they sang the final item, "Lilliburlero," by Mary Chater.}}
• The National Anthem
• The Queen's Grace (text: George Belling, 1585)
• Guide Grace: Bless this our food (text: Dorothy Kerr){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=25}}
• Greensleeves{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |pages=30–31}}
• Will ye no come back again? (text: Lady Nairne){{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1965 |title=The First Book of Camp-Fire Songs |location=London |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=26}}
• New Forest Vesper (additional text: D. Whitehouse){{cite book |date=2007 |title=Something Old, Something New |location=Norwich |publisher=Girlguding Anglia|page=66}}

Chater conducted several Guide groups, including for the BBC's Children's Hour as part of the 1949 and 1950 Thinking Day features.{{cite episode |title=Hello Guides! |series=Children's Hour |network=BBC Home Service |date=1949-02-22}}{{cite episode |title=Hello Guides! |series=Children's Hour |network=BBC Home Service |date=1950-02-22}}

Outside of Guiding, she established a women's choir called 'The Monday Club' which met at her home. They would perform at the Bognor and Worthing music festivals where Herbert Howells would occasionally judge.{{cite book |last=Chater |first=Mary |date=1991 |title=Music and Words |location=Girlguiding Norfolk County Archive Resource Centre (ARC), Coltishall, Norfolk |page=32}} She also conducted the Parry Choir.{{cite news |date=1944-12-28 |newspaper=West Sussex Gazette |title=Littlehampton |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002166/19441228/219/0008|location= Chichester, U.K. |page=8 |access-date=2021-09-21 |quote=The choral work is being undertaken by the Parry Choir, trained by Miss Mary Chater}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgwhqvaGAY_Oy2v4eyoNTQ YouTube channel 'Songs for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts']
• [https://lesliesguidinghistory.webs.com Leslie's Guiding History]
• Janet E Tobitt

{{Portal|Biography |Scouting}}

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Category:1896 births

Category:1990 deaths

Category:People from Middlesex (before 1965)

Category:Alumni of Durham University

Category:English composers

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Girlguiding

Category:Girlguiding officials

Category:Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting

Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Music

Category:People from Littlehampton

Category:English choral conductors

Category:English book editors

Category:Recipients of the Silver Fish Award