Pat Ashworth, more memories

I am very shocked to see Pat Ashworth has passed away. Poor Harry. I used to ski with them in the 70’s and Pat reckoned a trip we did to Sauze d’Oulx in 1974 was a Club trip. I first met Pat when I joined the committee in about 1972 The chairman was Norman Atwood and Secretary Gerald Wilmer who started the SCoM on behalf of SCGB. Pat and Harry were coming to the garden open day in August but at the last minute cried off.

Jane Fairclough

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I first met Pat and Harry when I was just seeing my late husband, Roy Formby. I heard many anecdotes from Roy about the early days of the ski club when he and Pat and Harry used to go to exercise classes and other functions, plus of course skiing.

Pat enjoyed many interests including Skiing, Walking, Sailing and Scottish dancing.

Roy was on a ski holiday when every evening he would sneak away and make a call to me. This was years before mobile phones. We were both widowers and Pat and Harry supported Roy in this new relationship. We married a couple of years later and it was at our wedding that Pat and Harry were taking lots of photos. They later presented us with the most wonderful wedding album. It was better than the professional we had hired and much more personal and became a prized possession.

We used to go to Pat and Harry’s for New Year, which included dancing and Scottish dancing. It was lovely. We met up regularly for walks and Ski Club get-togethers. Pat went four times a year to Arnside for a Scottish Dancing holiday, and we would always meet up. I was looking forward to seeing her in November when she became quite ill after managing cancer very well for 7 years.

I found Pat very caring and kind with a sense of humour too. She was so supportive when Roy died and helped me sorting things out. Pat was very practical as well. She will be dearly missed, and my heart goes out to Harry and all her friends and relatives.

Whitney Formby

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Just a few additions from John and me. Pat was chairman of the club again in the early 90s when I was introduced to SCoM by my, now, husband John. She continued on the committee for many years.

A stalwart of the club in many ways, organising a whole list of events, holidays, with help from Harry of course, parties, walks etc.

She continued to ski for many years after Harry had to stop because of injury.

She was all in all, a real good egg.

John and Trudy Lymer

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Pat and I met regularly at Scottish Country dances. She appeared so well on the Arnside dancing holiday in August, and we danced together as usual. She left early though, due to a virulent bug in the guest house. Pat coped so bravely with her cancer.

In the early 1990’s, Pat invited me to a Bude dancing weekend and also a memorable Mervyn Short dancing holiday in Malham. (Mervyn was well over 6ft tall). Due to an injury he wore heavy brogues instead of dancing pumps and made a fearsome entry onto the dance floor. Afterwards, we danced to his recently devised ‘Sunshine and Sweaties’.

I relied on Pat for information on SCoM’s early years and will be lost without her help. Sadly, her long-time friend Freda Moony and also early member Roy Dearden died last year.

Pat was such a caring person. I can’t believe she’s gone, and I shall miss her very much. My thoughts are with Harry and family at this sad time.

Chris Fildes