Oldham: The most inspirational women in the borough

International Women's Day takes place every year on March 8 with hopes of renewing the world's collective vision of achieving gender equality while shining a light on women around the world who work tirelessly to accelerate this goal.

However, there are plenty of inspirational women who make a difference in seemingly 'small' ways in their community, such as mums, cooks and charity fundraisers, and our borough is brimming with exceptional women.   

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Readers of The Oldham Times have had their say on who they consider their most inspirational woman as we take a look at some of the local women who made headlines.

Naomi Greenwood loves inspiring women to achieve their goals (Image: Naomi Greenwood)

Naomi Greenwood is the CEO of The Doll Lounge on Ripponden Road and aside from running the salon, which provides free courses to school leavers and affordable courses to those on low income, her friend Collette Hall described her as a "hard-working mum who always puts 100 per cent into helping others, supporting charitable causes and pushing other women to achieve more".

The mum of five holds raffles to raise money for people who are terminally ill and makes meat hampers at Christmas as well as feeding the homeless.

Naomi said: "I just love to inspire women, especially single mums, to achieve their dreams.

"I'm a great believer of you get what you put into this world. No amount of kindness is too little."

Collette added: "She's a little legend."

Collette, who runs Clean Plate Kitchen Oldham, also received a nomination as one of Oldham's most inspirational women as Neen Chatters described the cafe owner as "selfless" and "kind".

Neen said Collette raises money for charity and will help people out with free meals from the cafe if they have fallen on hard times. 

Neen added: "She's a hard-working woman, as well as a fantastic mother, dedicated wife and fantastic friend to all she knows.

"Not only that, she is a rare example of supporting other local businesses.

"She is just a wonderful woman, who inspires me and many more. She's the kind of woman that makes you smile about yourself even on a bad day.

"Everyone needs a Collette in their lives."

Amoy Crooks (left) with her daughter Amour Crooks (Image: Oldham Council)

On the subject of good cooks, Laura Cross nominated Amoy Crooks, who runs Yum Yums Caribbean Cuisine in Oldham town centre, for being "one of the strongest most independent women ever" and "the mother to our community".

Laura said Amoy is "always thinking of everyone else, no matter what" and "does everything she can to help anyone and everyone out".

She continued: "I suffer with seizures and she is my safe place if I'm unwell in town. She is one wonder woman."

Tino Tapfumaneyi also said Narinda Kaur deserves a nod as she has helped people in her shop on London Road for more than 30 years, including his mother when she became housebound due to poor health.

Tino said: "Narinda used to come up to the house, get the gas and electric key, go back to her shop, top it up, and bring it back with a few necessities.

"She did this for a year and I know plenty of others where they've been financially struggling and she has given them stuff from the shop like milk and bread to tide them over."

Some readers such as Peter Cooper and Eileen Thompson nominated "our late mum", Queen Elizabeth II, while Melissa Harrington said the most inspirational woman she met worked at her child's school, Firbank Primary in Royton. 

Melissa said Heather Woodall, a pastoral worker, "helped so many children" by going "above and beyond her paid job description" - and said there should be clones of Heather in "every school and workplace".

The parent added: "I'd just call her an angel."

The GP works hard to fight for better health support for women (Image: Dr Anita)

We also have the likes of Dr Anita Sharma, an Oldham GP who is leading the way in fighting for endometriosis awareness and better health support for women as well as Nicola Casey from Delph who set up a charity in the name of her late husband, Ricky.

Ricky was a firefighter in Oldham before he died from a rare form of cancer.

Nicola Casey has set up a pioneering charity in the UK in the name of her late husband (Image: Nicola Casey)

The Ricky Casey Trust works with patients and families all around the world to raise awareness of Renal Medullary Carcinoma, and is the first of its kind to exist in the UK.

Alison Shakeshaft said Pauline Town is her inspiration for supporting rough sleepers and vulnerable people for many years via her hub and pub, The Station House in Ashton.

Alison said: "Pauline is the most down to earth selfless lady who works incredibly hard.

"She asks for nothing but support to help others.

"She deserves so much credit and is an inspiration as to what can be done and how humble and respectful you can be.

"'We Shall Overcome' is her motto. Amazing.

"She spreads positivity in a time where it doesn't appear so."

Katie Marshall cast her vote for Sally Maher, who runs Our Community Wardrobe Oldham, for "helping and supporting families and children in Oldham".

Sally Maher supports children and their families with school uniforms (Image: Sally Maher)

The Lees woman also hit headlines for her efforts after she helped 347 schoolchildren in the borough with a school uniform, plus 27 pairs of new shoes, 100 packs of underwear and even a laptop to help a boy with his studies.

Ashley-Marie Higgins from Failsworth has managed to blend her passion for charity and beauty as she transformed her hair salon, Little Lady Locks, on Alder Road into a children's hair loss charity in summer last year.

Ashley-Marie Higgins said the charity was her calling (Image: Ashley-Marie Higgins)

The stylist ran the free service for children and teens, fitting tailor-made hair and wigs for youngsters with conditions like alopecia.

She said she found her "calling" after seeing how positively it impacted them as they "regained their old confidence".

Bethany Graham sends cards to those in hospital every year (Image: Bethany Graham)

In the community, Bethany Graham donates gift packages and cards to children receiving palliative care in hospital over Christmas through her annual 'Kindness Cards Project', which the young woman launched in 2018.

Meanwhile, a Royton mum worked hard to make sure more than 150 children in poverty received Christmas presents last year.

Charlotte Victoria planned Royton's first scarecrow trail to raise money for the initiative and worked hard behind the scenes to buy and donate all the gifts.

Charlotte Victoria made sure more than 100 children received a present from Santa last Christmas (Image: Charlotte Victoria)

Sarah Tate from Lees works hard to raise funds all year round for charities that mean the most to her.

To this end she completes rigorous challenges, such as cycling the distance of Land's End to John o' Groats (1,407km), and another cycling expedition the equivalent of the late Queen Elizabeth's final journey (96km) for the Mayor of Oldham's charities, and completing a triathlon to raise money for mental health. 

Sarah Tate puts herself through gruelling challenges for charity (Image: Sarah Tate)

Speaking of endurance tests, Janet Jobey, who works in Oldham's Up and Running branch, ran 46 miles (74km) across the Pennine Way in 12.5 hours in memory of her dad.

The complex and gruelling run saw Janet come seventh among female competitors and 25th out of more than 70 overall in the race.

Janet Jobey ran for more than 12 hours to complete the challenge (Image: Janet Jobey)

There are also plenty of award-winning women in Oldham too - and those who have made the history books.

Take Pam Kehoe from Delph, who was titled the Queen's Nurse (QN) in recognition of her work supporting people with dementia, and Doreen Brooks from Waterhead who, at 101 years old, was honoured with a purple plaque in recognition of her work in cracking the Enigma code during World War Two.

Doreen Brooks received a purple plaque for her efforts in WWII (Image: Doreen Brooks)

Barbara Keywood, who volunteers at the homelessness charity, Emmaus Mossley, and at Oldham Baptist Church, received a Platinum Champions Award from the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) for her volunteer work which spans more than 60 years.

Barbara Keywood has volunteered for more than 60 years (Image: Barbara Keywood)

Some readers took the opportunity to nominate other loved ones in their lives, such as Bryan Yates who said his girlfriend Angela is his "rock" after supporting him through a tough health battle while Philip Rogers said his wife, Jane, "never lets life get her down", despite living with tuberose sclerosis complex "all her life" and surviving a breast cancer scare as well as brain surgery.

Philip said his wife is a beaver leader at 12th Ashton Scouts, volunteers at Parkrun events and nurses outpatients at Tameside Hospital. 

There were also plenty of votes for mums, including Chris Ross who said his mother fought cancer three times and is "still smiling" with "a heart of gold and still going strong at nearly 87" while Beverly Higginson said her mum is "a happy bunny, always smiling" through her dementia battle.

Nicola Molloy said her mum, Jackie Molloy, is the "bravest and strongest woman ever", having overcome several heartbreaking tragedies in her life.

Nicola said: "My brother was murdered in 2010 and although she also died inside herself that day, she carried on with that pain forever in her heart and I know she did it only for me and my older brother.

"She also loved and nursed my dad for many years before he passed with cancer. Never complained once.

"I love that woman with all my heart and more."