THE widow of a former Prime Minister who described Oxford as her idea of ‘heaven’ has died aged 102.

Mary Wilson, Baroness Wilson of Rievaulx, was married to Harold Wilson, who served as the UK’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976.

A friend of Sir John Betjeman, she was an accomplished poet whose works sold in the tens of thousands.

Lady Wilson, who had hoped for a quiet life with the intelligent Oxford don she married in 1940, was passionate about the city.

At one point she even remained in Oxford while her husband pursued his political ambitions.

Lady Wilson was born Gladys Mary Baldwin in Diss, in Norfolk, on January 1916.

The daughter of a reverend, she wrote poetry from the age of six and became a shorthand typist in Cheshire after leaving school.

She met her future husband at a Cheshire tennis club in 1934 and the pair married on New Year’s Day in 1940.

Lady Wilson had wanted an academic life and fell in love with Oxford’s historic buildings and its community of young intellects.

It was the surprise of her husband’s political career that led her to say she had married Mr Wilson, who she met when he was a sixth former before heading to Jesus College, under ‘false pretences’.

Her love of the city prompted a period during which she stayed here while Mr Wilson embarked on a political career.

The marriage briefly struggled at this point and Mr Wilson ultimately persuaded her to leave Oxford for London, to be with him when he was appointed to the cabinet aged 31 in 1947.

When Mr Wilson became Prime Minister, Lady Wilson, perhaps not surprisingly, disliked life at number 10.

She strived to retain a level of independence but, despite refusing to embrace political life, was often obliged to do so for her husband.

The pair had homes in London and the Isles of Scilly.

During their time in Downing Street, the prime minister’s wife inspired the long-running Private Eye parody feature Mrs Wilson’s Diary.

She hosted Betjeman at No 10 and the poet wrote a piece about a journey they took together to Diss.

Lady Wilson, who died on Wednesday, June 6, outlived her husband of 55 years, who was MP for Huyton in Merseyside, by more than two decades.

She is survived by her two sons, Robin and Giles.