- 1939: Seized the opportunity to leave her office job and work in the countryside by joining the Women’s Land Army.
- 1945: Started studying for a BSc degree in Agriculture at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
- Over ten years she visited the islands of Skokholm and Skomer every year and completed the research for her doctorate.
- 1953: Completed her doctorate.
- 1956: Worked at Massey College in New Zealand.
- 1957: Worked as a Senior Demonstrator at the University of Melbourne, and then for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
- 1959: Mary Gillham was one of the first four female scientists to join an Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE).
- 1960: Spent three months researching in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Nigeria, finally returning to Britain in October.
- 1962: She secured a job at Cardiff University.
- 1988: Mary retired.
- 2009: She was awarded an MBE.
‘Mary Gillham leaves a great legacy: author of 22 books, co-author of a further 6, plus 50 scientific papers, countless articles and a written archive of travel journals, illustrated wildlife diaries and site visit reports spanning almost 70 years.’ – Mary Gillham Archive Project – http://www.marygillhamarchiveproject.com/bio/