A ROSSENDALE woman who served as the deputy of Greater Manchester Police Authority has lost her battle with cancer.

Dog-lover and grandmother, Gloria Oates, died on Sunday after undergoing chemotherapy.

Mrs Oates took up the position as vice-chairman of the GMPA in 2007 and stepped down in June this year when she became ill.

GMPA chairman, Cllr Paul Murphy, said: “Gloria was not only a colleague, she was a close friend to me and many other GMPA members. We are all devastated by the tragic news.

“Gloria was a loving and sensitive lady who was tough at the same time — she certainly wasn’t afraid to challenge either me or the chief officers.”

Originally from Sheffield, Mrs Oates lived in Stubbins for the last few years.

She served more than seven years as a GMPA independent member having been appointed in April, 2003, and reappointed in 2007.

She leaves five daughters and eight grandchildren. Mrs Oates had an interest in scrutiny and recently chaired a Scrutiny Commission which looked at GMP’s policing of major events.

She also had a passion for improving the protection of vulnerable people and was an integral part of GMPA’s Vulnerable People Working Group.

Her impressive history includes a total of 16 years as the chief executive of NHS Trusts and in 2000 she was awarded an OBE for services to health care.

She was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire in 2001 and became chairman of the Association of High Sheriffs for England and Wales for a three-year term in 2004.

Mrs Oates also volunteered at the University of Central Lancashire from 1992 until 2001 and Lancashire Polytechnic from 1988 until 1992.

In 2002, she achieved an honorary doctorate when she was also chairman of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Standards Committee.

Funeral arrangements are currently being finalised.