Tributes paid to popular community activist from Milnrow

A staunch Labour activist and local community legend has died after giving decades of her life to the people of Rochdale.

Anita Rothwell was a well-loved and cherished member of the community, known for being a Labour stalwart after joining the political party at the age of nine. She was also a vital cog in the United Reform Church in Milnrow before it was demolished, when she joined the Littleborough parish. 

Described as a marvel, mischievous and determined by many, Anita leaves behind a plethora of family and friends in the community as well as her two daughters Gillian and Pamela and five grandchildren Lucy, Madeleine, Adam, Edwin and Samson.

The beloved grandmother-of-five died at the age of 83 at Springhill Hospice on November 8 after a short illness, following years of battling Parkinson’s disease. Her daughters described how their mum ‘went out with a bang’ with fireworks lighting up the sky in the days leading up to her death.

Anita was said to have three priorities in life, ‘her family, her church and the Labour party’, in that order.

Pamela Rothwell said: “Mum’s favourite passion is sharing jokes with friends – she was a real comic – which she has done through the Rochdale Circle and numerous coffee mornings run by churches across the borough. 

“Her neighbours have been awesome looking after her while her family are away. The huge group of people who helped mum retain her independence in her own home was incredible. 

“She was wrapped around by caring neighbours and friends who as she struggled physically helped her retain her independence.

“It’s a huge list from Peggy’s cheese and onion pies, Graeme delivering fish and chips, Lee (mums odd job man), Pauline her hairdresser, Margaret’s cakes, to her immediate neighbours Shelley/Andy, Roy and Norma.

“To sum mum up… words people have used are a marvel, mischievous, huge fire in her belly and twinkle in her eye, kind, full of life, positive, a good friend and listener. A force to be reckoned with.

“Mum was a real star, from humble beginnings, she worked tirelessly for Rochdale with passion and fun. She will be missed by all who met her, but she’s with my dad now, so she is at peace.”

She went on to say how her mum is now with her late husband of 36 years, Edwin Alan Rothwell, who passed away in 1999.

Pamela explained how her mum was fighting for the community right to the end, asking Rochdale MP Paul Waugh and mayor Janet Emsley to get Littleborough community hub over the line on her deathbed.

She had a close relationship with her local MP, who she helped convince to stand for election again despite the setback of the by-election in February 2024. 

Speaking in tribute, MP Paul Waugh  said: “Anita was a Milnrow marvel. She contributed so much to her local community, as a devout Christian through her church and as a Labour party member through her decades of activism.

“I will truly miss her regular phone calls where she put the world to rights, and her cherished memories of politics over the years. It was an honour to present her with a Labour long-service award in January, after an extraordinary 70 years of campaigning and 50 years as a branch secretary.

“And I’ll never forget the way she urged me to keep going after the by-election disaster that befell our town last year.

“My thoughts are with her daughters Pamela and Gillian, whose deep love for their mum I witnessed first hand in Springhill Hospice just days before her passing.”

After 33 years of public service, Anita retired from working at the council in 2007. 

Before her time at Rochdale council she was a lollipop lady at Moorhouse Primary School and a dinnerlady at Roch Valley High School, now Hollingworth High. Anita also sat as a governor of multiple local schools and was a representative in the Trade Union.

Anita’s family are currently arranging her funeral details.