TO celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Amateur Stage Awards, the Bolton Evening News introduced a special category.

This award recognised a lifetime of commitment to amateur theatre and was given to Cath Blower of Bolton Little Theatre, who was greeted with a standing ovation when she collected her award at the Bolton Evening News Amateur Stage Awards and Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies' Dinner

Cath joined BLT 50 years ago, after being taken there by a friend.

She attended the Bradford Civic School, later the Northern Theatre School, and considered a professional theatre career.

Cath performed in a pantomime in Scarborough but, despite being offered work by the late Les Dawson, she decided it was not for her.

Among her early roles was a nun in Cradle Song and the boy's mother in The Boy With a Donkey.

One of her favourite parts was Matilda in The Noble Spaniard, although she wishes she had played Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Mrs Malaprop in The Rivals.

Her final role was Cissy Robson in Quartet at Bolton Little Theatre.