Ada Jane Summers MBE, JP (1861-1944) First woman councillor in Tameside and elected first Woman Mayor of Stalybridge in November 1919 A month later Mrs Summers was sworn in as a magistrate, becoming the first woman to adjudicate on an English Bench. In October 1920 she was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Boroughs' magisterial duties. Known locally as "The Lady Bountiful", Mrs Summers had many interested and was president of a variety of groups and societies. Her admirable work for the town gained her an MBE On May 31st 1939, the town council made her an honourable freeman on the Borough