Pat Weedon

MANY people have been saddened by the sudden, unexpected death of Pat Weedon, a popular former Mayoress of Wootton Bassett, who led the town's Silver Threads club from 1979 until its closure in 1997, following her move to Haydon Wick.

Cremation took place at Kingsdown and afterwards a large congregation shared in a memorial service at Christ Church, Swindon.

Wootton Bassett Silver Threads' theme song, Pack Up Your Troubles, was played as a special opening tribute to Pat, whose smiling face is a happy memory. At the end of the service, the organist played Zadok the Priest. The piece had been sung by Wootton Bassett church choir in June 1978, at the civic service of the Mayor David Magill, Mrs Weedon's brother, to whom she was Mayoress.

Since their 1978-79 year of office, David and Pat enjoyed regular reunions with other Wiltshire Mayors and Mayoresses of the time, the most recent being only last month, when they hosted a gathering at The Bolingbroke Arms hotel in Hook.

Ex-Mayors and Mayoresses of Chippenham, Devizes, Highworth, Salisbury and Wilton attended the memorial service. Bible readings were made by the 1999-2000 Mayor of Swindon Joy Brunt, to whom David Magill was consort last year, and Ted Smith, godfather of Mrs Weedon's son Richard. The service was led by the Rev Simon Stevenette.

Pat was born at Woolwich. She was educated at Twickenham County School for Girls and wartime classes took place at Twickenham Rugby Union ground. Pat survived wartime tuberculosis and she and her late husband Len were married at Feltham in October 1958.

Their daughter, Anne, was born in 1960 and their son, Richard, in 1963. After Len died suddenly in March 1967, Pat's brother David joined the family and helped her to bring up the children. They moved to Wiltshire almost 30 years ago, when David's job with Burmah Castrol was relocated. Pat, a member of the Mothers' Union, was devoted to her family, and was an unassuming public figure who enjoyed home life, knitting and crosswords.

Memorial donations were for the Arthritis Research Campaign, of which Mr Magill is Wootton Bassett branch President.