Marie was born and went to school near Cowbridge. She came to Caldicot with her family when he father worked on the railways; every fifth house was a railway house when they first came. After leaving school, Marie had several jobs before settling to work Caldicot School and remaining there for the next fifteen years. Following that, Marie worked for the MOD police at Caerwent and then at the royal Mint in Llantrisant. Marie speaks about her lifelong interest in reading and playing cards. Now retired, Marie is member of The Friends of Caldicot Library and works in the food-bank warehouse.