Barbara Olwyn Ronson (16 December 1942 – 28 October 2018) was a Liberal Democrat politician from Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England.^[1]

Born as Barbara Olwyn Gettins in Bolton, she was educated at Pikes Lane School, Bolton; Bolton School (Girls Division); Manchester College of Commerce (now Manchester Metropolitan University); and Bolton Institute of Higher Education (now the University of Bolton).^[1] In 1964, she married Robert Ronson at Saviour's Church in Bolton.^[2]

Barbara Ronson was elected as a Councillor to Bolton Borough Council in 1986; at first representing the Horwich ward and then, through name and slight boundary changes in 2004,^[3] the Horwich North East ward.^[4] She was also elected as a Councillor to Horwich Town Council in 1987.^[1] Her husband, Robert Ronson, was also a town and Borough Councillor.^[4][5]

In the 1992, 1997 and 2001 General Elections, she was an unsuccessful candidate in the Bolton West Constituency.^[6][7] During her political career, she was Mayor of Horwich 1996–1997,^[1] Leader of Bolton Council 2004–2006,^[8][9] and Mayor of Bolton 2007–2008.^[1][10]

Both Barbara and Robert Ronson stood down as town and Borough Councillors in 2011.^[11]

Barbara Ronson died in hospital on 28 October 2018, aged 75 years.^[12] In the same year, her son Mike died on 13 June 2018, aged 51 years,^[13] and her husband Robert (Bob) died on 3 December 2018, aged 83 years.^[14]