Birthday wishes are going out today to Gloucester's first female MP of the modern era.

Back in 1970 the then 'plain' Sally Oppenheim (and she was nothing of the kind), a former social worker from Sheffield, defeated Labour Party's Jack Diamond to take the Parliamentary seat for the city.

It was a seat she would hold until 1987. Douglas French then took over as Conservative MP, losing to Tess Kingham in 1997.

Those with a more intimate knowledge will know the now Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes was no 'working class girl made good'.

Although Irish by birth (born in Dublin), she was educated and grew up in Sheffield where her father was a diamond cutter.

In 1975 she was the only woman to share a position in the shadow cabinet of the formidable first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

The Gloucester MP also became Minister of State for consumer affairs - a position she held between May 1979 and March 1982.

Now ensconced in the House of Lords as a life peer she was given the title Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes of Gloucester in the County of Gloucestershire in February 1989.

Her time in Gloucester is not forgotten.

"I would like to congratulate Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes on reaching such a tremendous milestone," said Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council.

"She was one of Gloucester's best ever Members of Parliament and all these years on is still fondly remembered by many people in the city. On behalf of the Council and the City I send her many happy returns."

Richard Graham, the current MP for Gloucester, said "Sally is still - over 30 years on since she retired - remembered fondly by many in our city for the good causes she championed as MP for 17 years, the growth of business jobs and her enthusiasm for all things Gloucester. Happy Birthday Sally."

Just for the record, the first woman to be elected to the Commons - during the general election of 1918 - was also Irish.

Constance Markievicz, however, was unable to take up her seat as she was a member of Sinn Fein.

Which left the doorway open for Nancy Astor (Viscountess Astor) to be the first elected woman to enter the male-dominated world of British politics in December 1919.

Gloucester has had one more female MP - Labour's Tess Kingham held the seat from 1997-2001.

Today an estimated third of our MPs are women.