Merseyside Women of the Year 2008 winners

Jun 26 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

ENTERTAINMENT: Sue Jenkins

BEST known for her 11 years as the much-maligned Jackie Corkhill, in Brookside, Sue Jenkins has been acting for more than three decades. What many of her fans do not know is how much time she spends on charity work and fundraising to save theatres from closure. In 2005, she created, directed and produced a Night of Stars at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, which raised £35,000 to help build an orphanage in Thailand.

ENTREPRENEUR: Liz Howard

GIVING up her career as a stock controller after 18 years to look after her two young sons with behavioural and speech prob-lems helped Liz discover a niche market. After successfully selling toys and novelties aimed at children with special needs to raise funds for her school’s PTA, she opened an Ebay shop and then her own website, The Novelty Warehouse, selling multi-sensory resources.

LEARNING: Debra Mendy

DEBRA was the first black headteacher of a mainstream Liverpool school. Despite being raised in the care system, she gained GCSEs and A levels and was one of the first black workers with Natwest Bank. She became a single parent and her second child, who was severely disabled, died aged just 16. She has now created a harmonious school community that respects all cultures, races and abilities.

SPORT AND LEISURE: Mei Xia Li

AFFECTIONATELY known as Mrs Li, she moved to Liverpool in 1980 with her husband, the founder and leader of the Chinese Youth Orchestra. Although officially retired, she is active every day at the Pagoda community centre, where she holds at least five Tai Chi classes a week to around 100 people, teaching a unique mix of ancient Chinese arts of Chi Kung, Meridian Meditations, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Fan and Sword forms as well as folk dancing called healthy and happy dancing.

WOMEN ACHIEVING: Judge Christina Lyon

EMERITUS professor of law at Liverpool university, she is the first non-practitioner with no post-qualifying experience to be appointed a full-time circuit judge and is internationally renowned for her work on children’s rights. In her position as Professor of Law at Liverpool University, she has gained a reputation for her approachability, giving students her home telephone number and telling them to call her if they had any difficulties before exams.

WOMEN’S GROUP: Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre

STARTED in 1986 by a group of local women, this voluntary organisation supports victims by providing a link to the police, hospitals and other professionals and agencies. A trained advisor is available to listen in a non-judgmental way and offer practical help on issues such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The charity also runs a support phone line.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Abi Pointing (Highly commended: Mayo Sutton, executive nurse at Alder Hey)

AWARDED the MBE for community relations work in Liverpool and Manchester prisons, where she has been a volunteer for more than 10 years. A member of the Board of Visitors for six and its chair for two. She has worked with criminal justice agencies at national and local level and, for the past four years, has held the unique position of independent adviser on race issues to the governor of Manchester Prison, which involves fostering good relations by talking to staff and prisoners.

COMMUNITY MATTERS: Michelle Lewis (Highly commended: Dorcas Akeju, midwife)

MICHELLE, 25, started fundraising at the age of eight when she was adopted as the mascot for the Alder Hey Appeal. When she was born with very badly deformed legs and feet, her family were told she would never walk, but after 27 operations she was finally able to take her first steps. After the Alder Hey appeal had hit its £1.75m target, she continued to fundraise and, with the friendship and backing of such big names as Sir Cliff Richard and Ken Dodd, now hopes to have reached a figure of £2m by the end of this year.

NEWCOMER: Adrienne Taylor (Highly commended: Laura Critchley, singer)

PROVIDING fresh, locally-sourced produce to the people of Merseyside, Adrienne’s business, The Good Food Store, promotes reducing food miles and is like a farmers market on wheels. Customers order from an online store and can choose from an hourly delivery service. Repeat business averages 90%.

ARTS AND CULTURE: Olwen McLaughlin (Highly commended: Stephanie de Leng, photographer)

A CHAMPION of local artists and craft makers, Olwen is renowned for her drive, energy and generosity of support for local art and culture. She came to Liverpool from Dublin as a student and stayed, setting up her own art shop in the Bluecoat, which she ran for many years before moving to Editions Gallery. She also supports local photographers and writers.