NEARLY 200 family members and friends gathered in an Alveston church to mourn the death of a well-known figure from Thornbury.

St Helen’s Church was filled on October 23 to commemorate Pat Crawford, who passed away at the age of 80.

Pat, who was born in Thornbury in 1935, spent most of her life living and working in the town, and actively playing a part in local sport groups and clubs.

A former Thornbury Grammar School student, Pat grew up in Thornbury and went on to study history at Bristol University and during a summer break met husband Bill, who also studied history, with romance quickly blossoming.

After graduating, they moved to Windsor together and were soon engaged and married, moving back to Thornbury and holding the service in St Mary’s Church in 1960.

They were married for 50 years and had three children together, Jane, 50, Peter, 49, Michael, 45,four granddaughters and two grandsons.

Peter said over 180 people attended the funeral to pay their respects to his mum.

“She was very popular and well-known in Thornbury,” he said.

“After having children, she started teaching at Castle School, starting out as part-time but leading to full-time. 

“She retired in 1992 but carried out on teaching part-time at Westwing School in Thornbury. But she hadn’t retired from much, she was a keen hockey player before and golf player and started to play bridges more too.

“Mum was school captain of Thornbury Grammar School’s hockey team and captain again when she was at university in Bristol.

“She was one of the first members of Thornbury Hockey Club when it was founded in the late 1960s and was first team captain, and fixture secretary for 20 years.

"Dad used to umpire for the team too, so when we went to watch it was a real family affair.

“She was actually president of the hockey club when she passed away.

“Mum was highly competitive and stubborn, but in a good way. When she stopped playing hockey, she took on golf and joined the University of the Third Age (U3A) Bridge Club, for retired and semi-retired people to come and learn together.”

Bill passed away in 2010 after a short battle with oesphogeal cancer, and Pat was diagnosed with cancer three years later, and was given six months to live.

She went on to live for two more years and continued to play an active part in the community.

“I think her positive outlook on life was a reason why she lived past six months,” Peter added.

“She was never dramatic or miserable. She never moaned about feeling ill. She was a kind and thoughtful lady and popular in Thornbury, a keen hockey and golf player, and she liked to watch football and rugby too.”

Vice-president of Thornbury Hockey Club, Jane Perkins, knew Pat for nearly 50 years.

“We played hockey together for many years, she was very much part of, and still is, the hockey club,” she said.

“Pat was a lovely and kind person, a great mum who did lots for her children.

“She had a love of classical music and we often went to concerts together, especially at Cossham Hall.”