GMPA Vice Chairwoman loses cancer battle

Gloria Oates

Greater Manchester Police Authority Vice Chairwoman Mrs Gloria Oates OBE DL has passed away.

Mrs Oates lost her battle against cancer on Sunday (8 August 2010) after undergoing chemotherapy. She leaves five daughters and eight grandchildren.

GMPA Chairman Councillor Paul Murphy, speaking on behalf of the Authority 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 and I took over leading the Authority in 2007 and she did a superb job as a deputy. She brought a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the table in so many areas and made a significant contribution to lots of important decisions.

“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, particularly in her role as chair of the Scrutiny Committee.

“Gloria was an Independent Member who genuinely cared about doing a good job for the people of Greater Manchester. Here at GMPA her memory will live on and we will always remember her with fondness and warmth.”

Mrs Oates stepped down from her GMPA role earlier this year when she first became unwell.

She had served more than seven years as a GMPA Independent Member having been appointed in April 2003 and reappointed in 2007.

Dog lover Mrs Oates had a particular interest in the scrutiny side of the Authority’s work. She recently chaired a Scrutiny Commission which looked at GMP’s policing of major events and led in the development of the Commission’s report and recommendations.

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

The achievements made by family woman Mrs Oates during her time at GMPA were just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to career success. A biography provided to events which Mrs Oates has contributed to reads:

“Impressive is the word which sums up the profile of GMPA Vice Chair Gloria Oates. The family woman not only holds a police authority role which comes with added responsibilities. She is also chair of Oldham Sixth Form College and Lancashire County Council Remuneration Committee. Mrs Oates is more than capable to meet the challenges these various roles present – her career history, which includes a total of 16 years as the Chief Executive of NHS Trusts and an OBE for services to health care in 2000, speaks volumes. In fact, even the Queen has been impressed by Mrs Oates, appointing her High Sheriff of Lancashire in 2001. A role she developed in 2004 when she became chair of the Association of High Sheriffs for England and Wales for a three year term.”

In addition to significant and extensive experience in the healthcare field, Mrs Oates held a number of important voluntary roles, for example she was pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Board at the University of Central Lancashire from 1992 until 2001 and Chair of Board Lancashire Polytechnic from 1988 – 1992.

In 2002, Mrs Oates achieved an Honorary Doctorate. This was received at a time she was also Chair of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Standards Committee.