The founder of one of the first baby clinics in the country is to be the first female figure to be recognised with her own dedicated plaque in Bolton.

Sarah Reddish is to be recognised with her own plaque outside the Socialist Club on Wood Street in a milestone moment on Saturday.

Reddish was the founder of one of the first baby clinics in the country in the early 20th century. The 1908 foundation of the baby clinic is thought to be behind a dramatic decrease in the infant mortality rate in Bolton.

It is thought there are other plaques where a female figure is one recipient, like the memorial to Sir James Scott and Lady Anne Scott on Silverwell Street, but no other plaques where a female figure is the only recipient.

(Image: Unknown) Previously Chris Chilton, chairman of the Socialist Club, said: "Reddish spent a lifetime working for working people and, most importantly, she set up what was the second baby clinic in the country. Over the course of around 20 years the infant mortality rate went down from something like 148 per thousand to something like six per thousand so she was responsible for saving thousands of lives in Bolton. 

"She is largely unrecognised, largely undervalued, and as far as I am aware there is not another plaque to a woman in Bolton."

It is a replacement for a plaque to William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, which was removed from the site when the the site was out of use during the coronavirus crisis. 

This was after the addition of the former Mayor of Bolton to a list of famous figures whose legacies should be reassessed in light of their links to the country's colonial history.

(Image: Unknown) Over the course of a consultation there were a number of comments calling for the reinstatement of the plaque to Lord Leverhulme.

The council approved the application this year after a conservation officer said the reinstatement of the plaque was "unreasonable".

A report said: "Officers are satisfied the work would not represent an alteration which would affect the character of 16 Wood Street as a building of architectural interest or historic interest."

Born in Westleigh, Reddish died aged 78 in 1928 at what was Townley's Hospital. She is buried at Heaton Cemetery.

Here is the schedule for Saturday:

1.00pm - Welcome
1.05pm - Performance by Bolton Clarion Choir
1.15pm - Address
1.30pm - Unveiling
1.45pm - Lunch
2.00pm - Presentation on Sarah Reddish
2.15pm - Presentation on Women Trailblazers of the North West

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.