THE High Sheriff of Lancashire will be the guest speaker at this year's Bury Woman of the Year which will be held next month.

The fund-raising luncheon for Bury Hospice will be held on October 25 at the Elizabethan Suite where this year's successful winner will be announced.

Mrs Gloria Oates OBE who lives in Stubbins with her husband Professor Graham Oates and their five daughters, is the chief executive of Oldham NHS Trust.

She has been recognised widely for her work in the field of health where she has spent most of her working life.

Mrs Oates has had held positions as chief executive of Rochdale Health Care NHS Trust and for two years she was an assistant regional general manager for the North Western Regional Health Authority.

In November 1996, Mrs Oates was appointed a deputy lieutenant for the County of Lancashire for Services to Healthcare.

In last year's New Year's Honours List she was awarded the Order of the British Empire and in July of this year where Mrs Oates was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Central Lancashire, where she served on the formation committee and as chairman of the board where she was responsible for taking it from polytechnic to university status.