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Rotarian Cheshire Woman of the Year 2012

Rotarian Sue Bowen is Cheshire Woman of the Year 2012

Rotarian Sue Bowen of The Rotary Club of Macclesfield Castle was announced as the Cheshire Woman of the Year 2012 at a prestigious ceremony at Eaton Hall. Nearly 100 women were nominated from across Cheshire and the Wirral who have shown personal courage, outstanding professional success, or given service to their community attended a prestigious lunch in the Long Room, Eaton Park in Cheshire.

As the overall winner of the prestigious title , Sue was presented with a silver salver. Speaking at the event, she commented: “I’m extremely surprised and very honoured to be recognised as this year’s Cheshire Woman of the Year. There are so many other very deserving women at this event, so to be chosen as the overall winner, makes it all the more special.”

Sue Bowen retired in 2006 after a lifetime career in the teaching profession including primary Headship and work as a School Improvement Officer. She continued similar work as an independent consultant for several years before deciding to give up the paid work for the unpaid work, because it was more interesting and would give her more time to support the work of her Rotary club particularly with young people. She will be President in 2013.

She was asked to take on the role of Chair of Governor of Ash Grove Primary School in Macclesfield. The school was failing and threatened with closure, results were dire and pupil behaviour was ‘off the wall’. Her past experience told her that there was a huge mountain to climb, but her conviction that this was vital for the children to have fair chances in life drove her to work unceasingly to improve their education.

The appointment of a wonderful new head teacher in 2009 began the improvement process for real. Ash Grove’s SAT results in summer 2011 showed it to be the second most improved school in the country, an incredible turn around in just two years. The skilled and dedicated staff ensure that all children receive wonderful opportunities for learning and personal development. The astonishing improvement in academic and behavioural standards, increasing pupil numbers together with exciting external activities are very much due to her leadership.

A spin-off from the work with the school came with Sue’s involvement with Rotary help to create the Moss Rose Community Brass Band; a mad idea which seems to have created a monster. There are now 34 members, most of whom have never played a brass instrument. The Band’s capability is of course still at a very early stage but everyone has great fun and some people even come to listen - a fact which never ceases to amaze the members.

Speaking at the ceremony, chair of the Cheshire Woman of the Year committee, Sylvia Cheater said: “I would like to congratulate Sue on being named Cheshire Woman of the Year 2012 for her professional success and making a real difference to her local community.

She continued: “The annual event is a celebration of all those wonderful women across Cheshire and the Wirral who contribute to their communities in so many ways and many are ‘unsung heroines’. This is a way of paying tribute to all of them and giving them the recognition they deserve. Well done to all the nominees for all their tremendous achievements.”