THE Bolton businesswoman who saved the Octagon Theatre is to take centre stage herself next month as the new High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.

Sue Hodgkiss will step into history at Bolton town hall on April 9 as the first daughter to follow her father into the role of direct representative of the Queen.

Mr Bartle Hodgkiss, now 84, is a former High Sheriff of the county.

Ms Hodgkiss, aged 52, is chairman of family structural engineering firm William Hare. The firm was established in 1945 and was a major employer in the town until it moved premises to Bury three years ago.

She will be installed in the high profile role after the Queen, in an ancient ritual of selection, has literally pricked a hole in a piece of parchment bearing Sue's name with a silver bodkin (a blunt needle-like instrument).

"Although it is a traditional and largely ceremonial role, my aim is to make it a very practical one during my year of office," explained Ms Hodgkiss, who is divorced with a teenage daughter.

She is a director of Bolton Training Group, a governor of Bolton School and has devoted much of her spare time to working with homeless people through the Emmaus charity which sets up self-help communities.

She is interested in theatre and music.

And in 1999, when the financial future of Bolton Octagon was threatened, she privately raised £250,000 to guarantee that the theatre stayed open.

Typically, she remained anonymous at the time and has now admitted for the first time to the Bolton Evening News that she single-handedly saved the theatre.

"It was simply something I felt I should do," she stated.

Her year of office will see her actively involved with the Shrievalty Trust, which raises money for police crime prevention schemes like installation of CCTV.

The unpaid post of High Sheriff will also involve looking after the social welfare of visiting judges, escorting members of the royal family on visits to Greater Manchester and attending high profile events.

"I am definitely looking forward to my year in office," she said.

"We have a rich culture in this area with a population that happily embraces its history along with modern initiatives.

"I look forward to bringing the two together, and helping keep the role firmly in this Millennium."

There is a High Sheriff for each county in England and Wales. Formerly, the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county, but now the only significant legal function relates to the enforcement of High Court writs.