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A ‘working class hero’ from Bury who spent her entire adult life fighting for justice has been honoured with a red plaque. Betty Tebbs became well-known for her tireless work advocating for peace, justice and equality. When she was just 14 years-old, Betty began working at the East Lancashire Paper Mill in Radcliffe .
After discovering that boys got paid more shillings than girls, she immediately joined the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Works. By the time she left the mill 18 years later, she and her female colleagues were the best-paid paper mill women in Britain. She went on to organise and take part in countless demonstrations worldwide.
The plaque unveiling event took place at Festival Gardens on Church Street, Radcliffe on Friday afternoon, April 25. The crowd were treated to a lively performance by children from St John’s CE Primary School Choir along with readings from Bury poet Chris Bainbridge, writer Mark Metcalf, Tanya Sweeney from Unite the Union and Betty’s daughter Pat Pilling. Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to the Bury Times morning newsletter as well as our breaking news alerts.
Speaking to the Bury Times at the event, Pat, 83, said: “I want the plaque to serve as a reminder that ordinary working class people can make a difference but they have to be determined to do something and make it happen. “My mum's views weren’t always welcomed but she continued to fight every day. It’s brilliant to see her being recognised here in her hometown.
” Pat also shared a humorous anecdote where she remembered Betty, who was a member of Bury Athletics Club, being chased through a field by three police officers and managing to outrun them all. Paul Davies, 60, from Rossendale , was a key part of making the plaque a reality. He said: “I first heard about Betty from a line in a play that questioned why Victoria Wood had a statue in her hometown but Betty didn’t.
“I did some research and was shocked that so many people in Bury hadn’t even heard of her. “It wasn’t easy and I didn’t know where to start. It’s been more than three years in the making but it’s about time Betty finally gets the recognition she always deserved.
“We should all be more Betty.” Pat Piling and Paul Davies (Image: Lisa Valentine - Newsquest) READ NEXT: Businesswoman finds high street success with kids gym wear collaboration READ NEXT: Police raid 2 units and seize vehicles worth more than £100,000 The decision to make the plaque red rather than blue was somewhat controversial but was made as, according to Pat, her mum ‘would have turned in her grave if we’d have given her a Tory blue one.’ Along with his former band, MSIXSIX, Paul wrote a song in her honour, entitled ‘Betty Tebbs’, which was performed by the children's choir at the unveiling.
Pat’s friend Alex Killeen travelled from Tameside to be at the event. She added: “I never got to meet Betty but I wish I had. Her legacy is iconic and she did so much for women, especially.
” Born Elizabeth Smith, Betty spent her whole life campaigning right up until she died aged 98 at her Prestwich home. In the 1960s, Betty and Pat cut through the wire at Greenham Common and got access to the US cruise missile base, where thousands of women were gathered in permanent protest. When she was 89, Betty was arrested for lying in the road during an anti-Trident demonstration in Faslane, Scotland.
She won the Elizabeth Gaskell award at Manchester Council Women’s Awards in 2010 for her humanitarian work alongside many other accolades and formed a firm friendship with Bolton actress Maxine Peake..
