12 amazing Warrington women

It is International Women's Day, so we have taken a look at some of the most impressive females in Warrington's history.

Here's 12 Warrington women we feel deserve applause. 

But we also want to hear from you. 

Are there any female unsung heroes in your house?

They might have stood up to bullies, helped the homeless, aided charities, worked to protect the environment or campaigned for a cause close to their heart. 

Whatever the reason, we want to hear from you about the wonderful Warrington women who deserve to be on this list. 

Post your suggestions in the comments section. 

In no particular order...

Wendy Parry

Wendy set up the Foundation for Peace after her 12-year-old son Tim was killed in an IRA bomb blast in Warrington town centre.

She has been appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Tim was killed alongside three-year-old Johnathan Ball in the blast in 1993 and the charity was set up in both their names. 

The cause has worked tirelessly to help other terrorism victims and Wendy received an OBE for her work in 2013. 

Helen Newlove

After the incalculable loss of her husband, Helen Newlove pledged to campaign for the Government, parents and police to step up their response to anti-social behaviour to make sure her husband didn’t die in vain.

Garry was murdered by a gang vandalising his car outside their home in 2007.

Determined to make a difference, Helen was appointed as the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales in 2013.

Patti Bradshaw

Knowing what parents go through when their child has a life-threatening condition, Patti and husband Alan set up the Shannon Bradshaw Trust in March 2003 after losing their daughter Shannon aged seven in July 2002. 

The cause offers a variety of support for families and help to help bring some happiness and relief to their poorly children.

Many families have been aided by the cause around Warrington and across the north west.

Maureen Maudsley

A former Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Maureen has dedicated her life to helping others following the sudden death of her son Andrew in 1985.

The Westbrook mum set up the Warrington Bereavement Support Group and invited families to her home to help them with their grief giving them the opportunity to talk about their children and their feelings over a cup of tea.

Her tireless efforts have also led to an annual candlelight service for parents, where messages dedicated to loved ones are written on butterflies and placed on a Christmas memory tree.

Mabel Capper

Believed to be Warrington’s first female journalist, Mabel Capper was a militant campaigner for votes for women.

She was in all, imprisoned six times and was one of the first suffragettes to be force fed.

Mabel took part in various forms of acts of sabotage including against the 1911 census and disruption of political meetings and polling stations.

Sue Johnston

Best known for her roles as Sheila Grant in Brookside and Barbara Royle in The Royle Family, Sue is one of Britain's best-loved small screen actresses.

Olivia Whitlam

Warrington's must succesful female rower became the Under-23 World Champion in 2007 and competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. 

Sheila Woodyatt

The Lymm South borough councillor was the town's joint longest-serving councillor. 

She also served as Mayor in 2000-2001 but sadly aged 80 back in 2018.

Lady Greenall

Lady Greenall was well known in Warrington around the turn of the 20th century.

She played an active role in helping those injured in the First World War and even went out to the front in February 1915 to take charge of a refreshment buffet to be opened under the auspices of the Auxiliary Committee of the Recreation Huts at the base camps in conjunction with the YMCA. 

Her hut became known as the Walton Hut - a reference to Walton Hall.

Edith Summerskill

Dr Edith Summerskill won two general elections for Labour in Warrington, serving from 1955 to 1961 and was the town's first female MP.

She was previously the MP for Fulham from 1938 to 1955 when the constituency was abolished.

As a feminist, she was concerned with women’s social and political issues, influenced by her medical career.

As a child she accompanied her father who was also a London doctor on home visits and later claimed that the exposure to ill health and poverty combined with his radical politics and support for women’s suffrage were crucial in shaping her professional and political careers.

Mel O'Neill

Anyone who has followed our blog over the past few years will know the story of Mel O'Neill.

The Penketh mum has been fighting cancer for nine years.

She regularly shares her inspirational journey with others and her story has moved people across the town.

Louise Blizzard

Warrington's Louise Blizzard is to set a new record for the most London Marathons completed by a woman next month.

The 44-year-old will collect her 26th medal having missed just one race since her first in 1994, when she finished in three hours 32 minutes and one second at the age of 18.

The only year she has missed the annual event was in 2010 when she was heavily pregnant – her son Alfie was born the next day and he will celebrate his 10th birthday by watching his mother run this year.