A DEDICATED carer from Prestwich who has volunteered in schools, care homes and hospitals for more than four decades has been crowned Bury Woman of the Year.

Edwina Rosenberg has been nominated for the accolade for seven of its 15 years and was “thrilled” to have won.

The 68-year-old, who first volunteered at the age of 14, entertains the residents of old people’s homes across the borough in fancy dress.

On Thursday she received the prize for the carer category as well as being crowned overall winner.

Edwina, of Castle Hill Road, cares for her extended family and is also well-known for cheering up poorly youngsters at Manchester Children’s Hospital by dressing as Mary Poppins.

She said: “I first began volunteering when I was taken to the Louis Glancy House for the Blind as a teenager. My job was to cut up the Danish pastries and wash the cups and saucers.

“That inspired me, and ever since I have supported many causes. Each year I entertain 200 to 300 people in different retirement homes — making a different fancy dress costume every time. It is very hard work but I do it because I love it. One old lady said to me ‘I was so miserable until you came into the room’.”

Last year Edwina dressed as the first OAP Olympian — complete with flags and medals.

She also runs confidence-boosting sessions with schoolchildren, and teaches Orthodox Judaism to people of different faiths.

Edwina added: “I think I have probably been nominated every other year since the award began! I will still be supporting Bury Hospice year after year as a volunteer because it is a very worthy cause. I would like to thank everybody who chose me as the winner.”

Jacqui Comber, chief executive at Bury Hospice, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Edwina. Her hard work and dedication is incredible and this prize is so well deserved. She is an inspiration to us all and is a fabulous woman.”

Nominees attended a civic reception at Bury Hospice with Mayor of Bury, Cllr Sharon Briggs, before the official prizegiving at the Bolholt Hotel in Walshaw.

Agnes Czernek, of Heathfield Road, Whitefield, took home the trophy for the volunteer of the year.

A member of Bury Hospice’s committee and a minister at St Bernadette’s Church, Agnes’ prolific charitable work saw her invited to Buckingham Palace in July this year.

She also volunteers with Bury Hospice Support Group, St Bernadette’s School, and at the Salford branch of the Catholic Women’s League.

Agnes said: “I am completely overwhelmed — I never expected this and I feel so humbled. I do these things simply because I love doing them and love helping people, not because I want recognition. But it is fantastic to have won.”

The businesswoman of the year prize was won by 55-year-old hairdresser Mo Kelly, of Second Avenue, Bury. She said her one-year-old Rochdale Road hair and beauty salon The Only Way Is Mo is a community hub and an opportunity to organise charity events. She said: “I was really shocked to have won — I could not speak for the first five or 10 minutes after I found out!

“The salon seems to have become the centre for people to meet.People turn up with biscuits and coffee and when we had a Macmillan Cancer coffee morning so many people came you could not get in the shop.”