- Left FGS in 1949 and went to Manchester College of Domestic Economy (later College of Housecraft, then Elizabeth Gaskell College).
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Left college in 1952 and took up teaching post at Hulme Grammar School for Girls, Oldham
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Married John Rothwell (ex- Worsley Tech) in April 1953. We have five children: Roberta (1954); Gillian (1955); John (1958); Timothy (1963) and Janet (1967), and eight lovely grandchildren.
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Returned to teaching in the 1950s, doing a short spell at Birch Road, Walkden before transferring to primary-school teaching
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In 1962 both John and I got involved in local politics, initially to do something about the shoddy way people were being treated over a new bypass being driven through the Farnworth end of Kearsley. John led the charge and was elected in 1963, together with Terence Luby (FGS 1946, Grp. 2).
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I stood as a Liberal in 1965 (when we took control of Kearsley Council from Labour) and both John and I remained Kearsley councillors until the local government reorganisation of 1974.
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I then took up national politics, standing twice in Farnworth as a Liberal parliamentary candidate, in February and October 1974, and in Bolton South-East in 1983 and 1987. I failed to convert these solid Labour constituencies but it was good fun all the same, and I continued teaching throughout.
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I was chairman of the governors of FGS when the school closed, and later spent two years of my life trying to save the fine school building from the politically motivated vandals who decided that it should be demolished. There are people on Bolton council I shall never forgive.
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I'm currently secretary/treasurer of Dixon Green and the Rideout Foundation. Mr. Gibson (the last headmaster of FGS) is Chairman and, at the age of 85, has lost none of his formidable intellectual powers. I am in awe of him!
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