Radcliffe stalwart to chair £20 million Pride In Place project

Local resident Tina Harrison MBE will lead the way in deciding how £20 million of Pride in Place money will benefit Radcliffe over the next decade.

She was the unanimous choice to chair the new Pride in Place board by a panel including Bury Council leader Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Radcliffe First leader Cllr Mike Smith, Bury’s MPs Christian Wakeford and James Frith, and representatives from Bury Hospice and the council.

Tina, a retired nurse and community activist, has been described as “the heart and soul of the community”, and is currently the director of Growing Together Radcliffe: Growing Together Radcliffe Support Centre opens in Radcliffe - Bury Council

“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s very exciting!” said Tina (aged 67), who lives in Radcliffe with her husband Colin, and has two sons and four grandchildren.

“I really didn’t think I would get it because the interview was so hard – not having done a job interview for a long while!

“Now it’s sunk in, I know it’s going to be great for Radcliffe, and I just hope I can do a good job for the community.”

As chair, Tina will now help to appoint a Neighbourhood Board – for more details, and to put yourself forward, go to About Pride in Place - Bury Council

She will also set up the terms of reference for the board, identify ‘quick win’ projects, and work with the community on the longer-term aspiration of this funding with support from the council and MPs.

During the pandemic, Tina ensured that dozens of families who were struggling received food parcels and other support, co-ordinating the Trinity Church Foodbank. She also set up the community group Corrie Gardeners, which teaches gardening skills to young people and families, along with providing advice on legal matters and Universal Credit applications.

Although born in Bury, Tina moved to Radcliffe around 15 years ago. “The people are so good here, there’s so much community spirit already,” she said. “We’re going to build on what’s already there and bring more people together, residents and businesses.

“People do have pride in the town, and see improvements coming in – the new high school, the new leisure hub in the town centre – and Pride in Place will complement all of that.

“I really want to engage people of all backgrounds, from the schools to our older people, so that everyone can have a say in what they want for our town.”

Tina was made an MBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours, and was presented with the award at a special celebration held at Radcliffe FC. The Vice Lord Lieutenant, Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL, described her as the heart and soul of the community, adding: “She is a great example of what the honours system is actually designed for - ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”

Tina said: “I’m looking forward to meeting the new board, and I hope as many people as possible come forward, so we can get a really good mix of people with different skills.

“This is a new era for the town. We can’t live in the past, we must move forward, and build for future generations.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 1 April 2026.

Photo: Tina Harrison MBE.