A Bolton woman who has dedicated her life to tackling inequality and pursuing justice and fairness has been awarded a British Empire Medal.

Denise Lonsdale, has worked extensively with the Bolton Advice Centre for 40 years, having first come to the centre to seek advice for her own problems.

Since then, she has helped thousands of people with their benefit claims, disability claims, housing problems and more.

Mrs Lonsdale said: “This came as quite a shock, especially at my age.

“It’s so nice to be personally recognised but more importantly it’s lovely for the centre and all the other great volunteers who work so hard at the centre, giving their free time to help those in this town who sometimes feel they don’t know where to turn for help.

“Sadly, in the past couple of years we have lost a some of the great volunteers who helped make this centre what it is, such as Maggie Hall, Shaun Bourke, my close friend Heather McDonald and my much missed husband John.

“This award is also dedicated to them. 

“Sadly, it seems that more people than ever are suffering in this town with the recession and Covid-19, so we’re busier than ever and won’t have much time to celebrate.”

Thanks to her work at the centre, Mrs Lonsdale has become widely known and admired in the community.

Manager Steve Fisher said: “Denise has worked tirelessly as volunteer, running the centre since it opened as the TUC Unemployed Advice Centre 40 years ago, it’s a much-deserved recognition of the impact she has had on the lives of the people of this town.

“She stepped back from managing the centre two years ago when we achieved registered charity status, but she still comes in every day, rain or shine, with as much energy as ever in her sixty eighth year.

“Her reputation in the town is as a generous, selfless and ferocious fighter for people’s rights, they know she’ll never give up on them.

“Many people still refer to it as Denise’s Centre because in so many ways it really is.”