CHESHIRE WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2025: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF INSPIRATION AND IMPACT
On Tuesday, 4th June 2025, guests gathered at the annual Cheshire Woman of the Year Lunch to celebrate the extraordinary women who enrich our communities through courage, compassion, and commitment. This year’ s celebration was particularly poignant, marking the 40th anniversary— its Ruby Year— of this treasured event that has become a fixture in the county’ s calendar since 1985.
Held in a spirit of joy and gratitude, the event welcomed nominees from across Cheshire and the Wirral, as well as a host of dignitaries, including the recently invested Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Sherin Akhtar— the city’ s 808th Mayor, and the first Muslim woman to hold the position while wearing the hijab. Her presence underscored this year’ s powerful theme: inclusion, resilience, and“ Pride in Place.”
Honouring Everyday Heroes The Cheshire Woman Award seeks to recognise women from all walks of life— those making a difference in their careers, communities, or families. Whether through professional excellence, voluntary service, or acts of extraordinary personal courage, the nominees all shared one common thread: they were quietly changing lives.“ These women may not see themselves as remarkable,” says Alison Blackler, from Cheshire Woman Awards Committee.“ but someone out there does— and that’ s why they have nominated. This is Cheshire’ s chance to say thank you.”
Woman of the Year 2025: Esther Ghey The highlight of the afternoon came with the announcement of the Cheshire Woman of the Year 2025— Esther Ghey. In 2023, Esther suffered the unthinkable: the murder of her teenage daughter, Brianna. Yet, out of unimaginable grief, Esther has become a national symbol of strength and hope.
She founded Peace and Mind UK, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching mindfulness to children to foster resilience and well-being. Her advocacy has reached Parliament and national media, campaigning for online safety and social media reform. As an ambassador for the Mindfulness in Schools Project, and author of Under a Pink Sky, Esther has channelled tragedy into transformation. Her courage, grace, and activism have rightly earned her national acclaim, including being named The Independent’ s Most Influential Woman of 2024. Last year’ s winner, Mel Kelly from Wirral, had the honour of presenting Esther with her award— an emotional and inspiring moment that brought the room to its feet.
Special Awards: A Global and Local Impact Two Special Recognition Awards were presented this year. Dr. Mary Wilson, Consultant Radiologist at the Nightingale Centre, was honoured for her outstanding contributions to breast cancer prevention and education. A trustee of Prevent Breast Cancer, Dr. Wilson’ s efforts
include championing workforce training and infrastructure to improve early detection and treatment outcomes for thousands.
The second award, International Changemaker 2025, went to Margaret Jarrett. After visiting Sierra Leone in 2003, Margaret was moved by the plight of orphaned children post-civil war. Since then, she has founded and developed a primary school, now educating 745 children, with a secondary school on the way. Her work has transformed lives and earned her an MBE in the 2024 King’ s Birthday Honours List.
Forty Years of Remarkable Women Over four decades, the Cheshire Woman of the Year Award has celebrated more than 2,500 nominees and raised nearly £ 300,000 for children’ s charities, the NSPCC. Past winners have ranged from Salvation Army officers and community nurses to corporate leaders and humanitarian campaigners.“ What’ s never changed,” says Sylvia Cheater“ is that most nominations come from small acts of kindness, bravery, or determination. And every year, I am struck by how many women do all these things— and more.”
Powered by Community None of this would be possible without the generous backing of sponsors, some of whom have supported the event since 1985. Special thanks is extended to Jenkinsons a long-standing champions of the awards.
This year’ s Platinum Sponsors reflected a changing landscape, with women-led businesses taking centre stage. These included Maria Challis of James James Kitchens in West Kirby; Kate Blundell of Sandstone and Sunlight Dental Practice; Lucy Hart of Sinclair Law, a female-led firm in Wilmslow and Bramhall; and Cavendish Nuclear.
Looking Ahead The afternoon concluded with an inspiring speech from broadcaster Lucy Meacock, a long-time friend of the awards. Lucy spoke of truth, community, and the importance of holding space for women ' s voices, drawing from her decades in journalism and advocacy.
As the event drew to a close, guests were reminded of the power of collective action— whether through nominations, sponsorship, or volunteering. The organising committee, a small but dedicated group of women, received heartfelt thanks for their tireless efforts.
Cheshire Woman of the Year is more than just a lunch. It’ s a movement— a celebration of everyday greatness and a call to continue building a world where women’ s contributions are seen, heard, and honoured.
14 wirrallife. com