ONE of Bolton's best-known women, Honorary Alderman Mrs Barbara Hurst has died at the age of 82.

She was a former Mayor of Bolton and worked for so many voluntary organisations her diary was always full with dates of meetings.

Mrs Hurst joined Bolton Council in 1968 and made a lasting impression on the town, especially in the field of education.

She had trained as a domestic science teacher and taught at local schools before becoming an examiner.

A mother of five and grandmother of 11, she was elected First Citizen in 1984 and took great pride in having her two daughters share the role of Mayoress.

She was a member of one of the town's oldest families. Her husband, Richard (Dickie Hurst OBE) had been head of the Richard Threlfall engineering firm and president of Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce. The firm is still family-owned, now headed by son Richard.

Mrs Hurst served on the governing body of Bolton Institute -- which awarded her an honorary degree for her work last year -- and was chair of governors at her old school, Mount St Joseph's.

She was also on the governing bodies of Bolton Sixth Form College, of Sharples School and of Birtenshaw School.

Her charity work was immense. She was chairman of the local branch of the Arthritis Research Council, of Newstalk (the talking newspaper for the blind) and the Bolton Catholic Handicapped Fellowship.

Mrs Hurst was also a stalwart of Fortalice, Bolton's hostel for battered women and their children from its inception and was heavily involved with Bolton North East Conservative Association.

Its chairman Mr David Greenhalgh stated: "It was a privilege to have worked with Barbara over the years. Her dedication and hard work for the town and people of Bolton was invaluable.

"She was a lady of great dignity who earned the respect of many."

Barbara Hurst was awarded the MBE in 1993 for her "services to the public and the community in Bolton".

But there will be many people in Bolton today who remember individually a remarkable woman of authority whose genuine compassion brought real changes to her home town.

Mrs Hurst's funeral will be held at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Heaton, next Wednesday at 2pm. Donations are requested in lieu of flowers for ARC and Fortalice.

LASTING IMPRESSION: Honorary Alderman Mrs Barbara Hurst MBE