A FORMER mill town girl, who was determined to remember Darwen when she was honoured with a life peerage, has been granted her wish.

Doreen Massey (ne Hall), 60, is officially known as Baroness Massey of Darwen.

The title was announced in the court and social pages of The Times after she applied for it to The Garter King of Arms. She is now on the lookout for a prominent figure from the town to share in her success when she takes her seat in House of Lords on November 1.

The mother-of-three also hopes Darwen MP Janet Anderson and her former French teacher from Darwen Grammar School, Malcolm Wilson, will be among her guests at the special ceremony.

"Darwen holds a special place in my heart and I'm very proud of my roots," explained Doreen who was brought up in Lynwood Avenue.

"I plan to return in September to see friends and I would love to find somebody who is respected in the town and invite them to be at my installation.

"My peerage came out of the blue but I knew straight away that I wanted Darwen to be part of my title. I'm absolutely delighted I've been able to remember my home town in this way.

"I'm only using it in my official capacity because I don't want to sound pompous or pretentious."

Doreen was head girl at Darwen Grammar School and played for Lancashire school cricket team. Her mother was a weaver and her father also worked in local cotton mills as a drawer-in.

At 18 she left Darwen for university in Birmingham and later taught in Britain, America and Africa before settling in London.

She has a masters degree in health education and was a school adviser before becoming head of education and training for the Family Planning Association.

In recent years, she has concentrated on her role as an independent consultant in health education, often working on international projects for the European Commission.

She is a Labour supporter and hopes to use her new role to help influence policy relating to education, health and international development.

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