Anne Collins was born at Billinge Hospital on 6th May 1957. Her father was employed as a glass cutter at Pilkington’s Cowley Hill Works in St Helens and her mother worked for the Co-operative Society as a shop assistant.
Anne's maternal grandfather was a miner and her grandmother worked in agriculture. She has deeprooted family connections to the Billinge and Orrell area, where her mother’s family have lived since the 17th century. Anne has one brother, John, a sister-in-law, Anne-Maree, and two nephews, Peter and Patrick.
Anne attended Orrell St James R C Primary School, Notre Dame High School in Wigan, and St John RigbySixth Form College in Orrell. Upon leaving school she trained as a Mental Health Nurse at Billinge and Winwick Hospitals. She worked in NHS Mental Health services for 36 years, including 21 years as a ward manager at Winwick and Hollins Park Hospitals. In the later stage of her career, Anne worked as a Community Nurse in Wigan, Warrington, and St Helens before retiring in 2012.
Elected as a Councillor for Orrell Ward in 2023, Anne says it is a privilege to serve the people of Billinge Higher End and Orrell where she was born and grew up, and this allows her to 'give back' to her community. She enjoys providing activities for local children, supporting local scouts and guides, working with faith groups, and supporting the older people in her community.
As a keen reader, Anne's favourite authors are Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens and John Galsworthy. She also enjoys playing the guitar, listening to traditional music and Aran knitting. She is well known for her soft spot for animals especially dogs and horses. In 2018 she rescued 'Jack the Nipper', a dog of dubious ancestry.
Anne is a member of the Victorian Society, the William Morris Society, the Pre-Raphaelite Society, the Thomas Hardy Society, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The most unusual interest she has is visiting old churches, cemeteries and graveyards.
Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre is Anne's chosen charity as caring for our carers is a cause close to her heart. She knows from personal and professional experience the many hours of unpaid, and often unrecognised, care that family and friends provide, and the stress they experience. Anne is especially concerned for children and young people who care for their parents and their siblings.
Anne says: "It is an honour to be Mayor of Wigan Borough. I will endeavour to represent the people and communities of Wigan, Leigh, and our towns and villages to the best of my ability during the coming year."