Cheshire Woman of the Year nominees announced ahead of NSPCC fundraising awards

The nominees for this year’s Cheshire Woman Of The Year have been announced, ahead of this year’s awards lunch.

Categories for the awards – which is now in its 34^th year - celebrate professional achievement, community service and personal courage of women across the Cheshire and Wirral, and more than 2,000 women have been honoured in the awards’ history.

The event has raised almost £300,000 for children’s charities through sponsorship over the last 34 years, and this year all funds will go directly to the NSPCC to support children and families in Cheshire and Wirral.

Sylvia Cheater MBE, Chair of the Cheshire Woman Award Society, said: “This event is always wonderful, and it is inspiring to hear the stories of the women whose lives we are celebrating. We’re also delighted that this year’s funds will go entirely to support the NSPCC in the region.”

The winner of the 2022 awards will be announced on Wednesday, June 15 at Chester Racecourse. 

Nominated ladies from Cheshire and the Wirral area, by category, include:

Community Service

Liz Bedson from Crewe, who set up a group to help stroke survivors

Rebecca Collins from Wincham, who turned her treatment room into a PPE sewing room

Gill Dabek from Moreton, who set up the Moreton Outreach Project

Julie Duff from Hartford, who leads the Cheshire West And Chester Parent Forum

Sallie Fletcher from Chester, for her support of the deaf community

Becky Jones from Bromborough, who created and maintained a Scouting community during the pandemic

Rita Lewis from Ellesmere Port, for working with food suppliers to distribute it to those in need

Sandra Link from Crewe, for her work on a series of social initiatives and charities

Barbara Lundon from Meols, who raised £20,000 in six weeks to support Ukrainian refugees

Kate Maurice from Macclesfield, a retired commercial pilot turned entrepreneur

Helen Mollart from Haslington, a dedicated organiser of community events

Alison Parr from Congleton, founder of Ruby’s Fund Charity for SEN families

Dianne Parrish from Chester, founder of Chester Frosties wild water swimming group

Suzanne Rippon from Upton, for supporting families with food and clothing through the pandemic

Jackie Watts from Bromborough, president of Wirral Municipal Past Lady Golf Captains

Christine Youngman from Heswall, for bringing joy through community music

Personal Courage

Victoria Charlton from Prenton, for amazing resilience, courage and community support

Deborah Dixon from Tarporley, who founded the Aaron James Dixon fund

Patricia Ross-Davies from West Kirby, for her personal courage and passionate fundraising

Sue Westwood from Sale, ambassador for a Carbon Monoxide Safety charity

Professional Achievement

Angela Bentley from Altrincham, a therapist supporting mental, physical and emotional wellbeing

Leila Bibby from Chester, a figurehead in premature baby care and charitable funding

Amy Butterworth from Birkenhead, who cofounded retail opportunities promoting wellbeing and inclusion

Karen Clayton from Macclesfield, for inspiring, compassionate work as a Macmillan nurse

Janine Crimmins from Macclesfield, a garden designer with four Best In Show medals at Chelsea

Claire Currie from Wirral, a single mother of two, successful lawyer and her firm’s first female managing partner

Penny Davis from Cheadle, for her dedicated support to women in business

Chloe-Mairead Donnelly from Winsford, a master of nine languages and advocate for her students

Pauline Finlay from Saughall, a specialist homeless nurse supporting the most vulnerable

Sue France from Hartford, a forceful, strong empowerer of women

Jessica Gallier from Port Sunlight, founder of the Martin Gallier Project to prevent suicide and support families

Clare Goaten from Moreton, driver of cultural change in her teaching environment

Kirsty James from Lymm, community, charity and business champion

Tanya Jeffs from Wallasey, inspirational teacher working tirelessly for SEN children and advocate for the most vulnerable

Rachel Kay from Macclesfield, a transformational leader in education

Kelly Anne Livingstone from Macclesfield, an exceptional professional in residential care

Lisa Luscombe from Upton, cocreator of a boutique showcasing more than 40 small businesses who delivered gifts throughout lockdown to keep spirits up

Ann Marr OBE from Warrington, for outstanding leadership in the NHS

Fiona Neame from Chester, for transformational work with Chester Women’s Aid

Helen Parkinson from Port Sunlight, for a long-running NHS nursing career and innovative thinking in St Johns Hospice

Aly Phillips from Frodsham, a successful businesswoman who empowered others in business

Victoria Roskams from Whitby, who founded a social enterprise for young people, ex-forces and their families

Yvonne Ross from Heswall, an innovative counsellor and therapist

Kate Verdin-Walsh from Wirral, cofounder of a boutique showcasing more than 40 small businesses