Celebrated on March 8, the day honours the achievements of women worldwide.
Bolton has produced many famous faces, but you might not know some of these remarkable names, both past and present.
Suffragette, Sarah Reddish
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Sarah Reddish (Image: Unknown)
We begin with Sarah Reddish, born in 1849 in Westleigh.
She started working in cotton mills when she was just 11 years old.
From an early age, she experienced the harsh conditions and low wages endured by working women, and decided to commit her life to improving them.
Sarah became active in the Bolton Co-operative Society and rose to prominence in the Women’s Co-operative Guild where she served as president from 1886 to 1906.
She brought suffrage speakers to meetings, campaigned for better pay for female workers, and urged men to take a greater role in domestic duties.
Sarah ran for the Bolton School Board and later as a Poor Law Guardian, winning her seat in 1899.
She also helped circulate petitions for women’s voting rights, presenting tens of thousands of signatures to Parliament.
Her career spanned decades of activism, including work with the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies and the Clarion Movement.
Trade unionist, Alice Foley
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Born in Bolton in 1891, Alice Foley began working in the cotton mills at the age of 13, similarly to Sarah Reddish.
She took on the role of tenter (weaver’s assistant) and was responsible for overseeing machinery.
Unlike many working-class children of her era, she had the advantage of a strong education, despite leaving school at a young age.
Alice joined the Amalgamated Weavers Union as a “sick visitor,” assessing claims from injured or ill union members.
When she applied for the position of assistant general secretary in 1918, the post was denied to her, likely because she was a woman.
Despite taking on the work of the role for years without title or pay, promotion was slow to come.
It was not until 1949, after more than three decades of perseverance, that Alice was finally appointed to the position she had long deserved, earning equal pay and recognition.
Her contributions were later celebrated with an MBE in 1950 and an honorary degree from the University of Manchester in 1961.
Author and entrepreneur, Gulnaz Brennan
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Gulnaz Brennan with the 2025 Taste of Bolton cookery book (Image: Supplied)
Gulnaz Brennan was named one of the five most Inspirational Women of the Year 2025 by the Daily Mail and Marks & Spencer.
Gulnaz has built a career around the principle that true success is measured by lives transformed and communities strengthened.
She is the founder of the SheInspires Awards, which began as a celebration of unsung women in Bolto.
It has grown into the UK’s largest women’s recognition programme of its kind.
Gulnaz also founded the Let’s Talk Money programme, teaching financial literacy through schools and nurseries.
Her joyful mascot, Molly the Money Butterfly, guides children through lessons on saving and spending wisely.
Her Empower 50K initiative aims to reach 50,000 girls worldwide with workshops on women’s health.
She has already visited remote schools in rural India, teaching girls self-care and dignity in classrooms with no formal facilities.
In 2025, Gulnaz launched RISE: Women Leading the Future, and continues to lead the way for women’s equality in Bolton and beyond.
Author and educator, Sufiya Ahmed
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Sufiya Ahmed at at Bolton School in 2013
Bolton-born Sufiya Ahmed is an author who writes stories that celebrate culture and courage.
Sufiya began her professional life in advertising and as a researcher in the House of Commons, but her true calling came in writing.
Her debut young adult novel, Secrets of the Henna Girl (2012), won the 2013 Redbridge Children’s Book Award and earned recognition from multiple literary prizes.
Since then, she has authored picture books, biographical works, and middle-grade adventure series, including the Rosie Raja and Time Travellers series, which won Best Crime Fiction for Children at the 2025 CrimeFest Awards.
Sufiya has contributed to continuing Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series for modern readers and has developed new middle-grade adventure series with international reach.
Her books often weave historical insight with imaginative storytelling, making complex themes accessible to younger audiences.
She often shines a light on the contributions of women often overlooked in mainstream history.
Sufiya has become a role model for aspiring writers and young readers, particularly those from diverse backgrounds.
Olympic athlete, Kiera Byland
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Kiera Byland was honoured by the University of Greater Manchester in 2019
Athlete Kiera Byland won six gold medals for cycling at the 2015 and 2019 Special Olympics World Games.
As a child, Kiera struggled with her balance and coordination.
At 12, she took an interest in cycling after watching her father train at the National Cycle Centre.
In 2014, Kiera competed in her first Special Olympics national cycling competition and won gold.
She then went on to represent Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) at the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles, returning with three gold medals.
In 2021, Kiera was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to sport.
Kiera has devoted much of her time inn schools across the region, encouraging young people to develop a love of cycling and fundraising for equipment.
The work of these inspirational women continues to shape Bolton.
Tell us in the comments about other women who inspire you.
