Pat Pennick
Pat Pennick
Patricia (Pat) Wallace was born in Back George Street, a terrace of houses behind New Road Terrace West Cornforth, on the twenty third of August in 1939.
Pat had four brothers; John George (Jack), Keith, Matthew and Alan.
Pat’s parents were Matthew and Ethel. Matthew was born in 1913 and died aged 68 in 1981. Her mother Ethel was born in 1915 and died aged 91 in 2006.
Pat went to West Cornforth Primary School and Alderman Wraith Grammar School in Spennymoor.
Picture of Pat as a young woman
Pat’s father worked voluntarily for Lady Freville’s Charity an ancient bequest that was set up to in the 17th century to support three apprenticeships and the relief of poor people in the Sedgefield District.
Pat was involved in supporting the work of the charity alongside her father from when she was 13. Pat and her father were particularly busy with the charity’s work around Christmas time. Pat ensured that people in need were not overlooked, and received the support they needed when they needed it.
Her first job when she left school was in the office of Spennymoor Co-operative Society. It was here that she met her future husband Ronald Pennick who was the Society Accountant /Secretary.
Picture of Pat and her husband Ron
Pat and Ron had three sons, Keith, Michael and Stephen who were raised in West Cornforth.
Pat’s sons remember her as a supportive mother, wonderful cook and shining example to them.
Having three sons led to brotherly squabbles and caused Pat to intervene with the words ‘just wait ‘til your dad gets home’. The boys were bemused by this because they never heard their father raise his voice or hand.
Pat eventually bought them boxing gloves so that they could sort their differences.
Pat encouraged all her three sons to be as good as they could be at whatever they were involved in.
When Pat became a mother she chose to work closer to home.
Pat worked at Harrison’s Bakery in the High Street in West Cornforth, first as an assistant and then as manager of the bakery.
Pat’s colleagues at the bakery remember her with great affection and describe times working with her as ‘the best’. Pat was very happy in her work at the bakery.
Having been born and grown up in West Cornforth Pat had known most of her customers for many years and her job gave her an opportunity to make new friends.
Pat grew up with four brothers and had three sons.
Her four grandchildren Dominic, Shelley, Laura and James were a constant delight to her.
A devoted grandmother Pat loved each of her grandchildren as individuals.
With four brothers, and three sons, Pat was well prepared for the joy her grandsons brought her. Her two grand daughters were an unknown quantity; a welcome bonus. Pat was over the moon to have two little girls as part of the new generation.
Laura and James still live in West Cornforth. Dominic and Shelley live in other parts of County Durham. Pat’s family is justifiably proud of her achievements as she was proud of them all.
Pat served the people in the village as a Parish Councillor for over forty years from the 1960s until her retirement in 2010.
As well as Pat’s long tenure as Chair of the Parish Council she was a school governor for a long time, another role which she loved.
Pat was also involved in developing Ward One; the GP Unit at the Community Hospital in Sedgefield which opened in 1978.
This was a facility that provided much needed respite care for local people. It was run and supported by local general practitioners.
All three of Pat’s sons have been involved in public service. Keith is currently a JP while Michael and Stephen followed their mother on to the Parish Council.
The award of Freewoman of the Parish was established in 2010. The chairman of the Parish Council proposed that the Parish Council appoint Pat as the first Freewoman of the Parish of Cornforth for her outstanding contribution to the community.
The chairman of the Parish Council paid tribute to the service given by Pat while she was a Parish Councillor.
He described her as a tireless worker in the community and as a mother.
The minutes of the meeting show that the decision to make Pat the first Free Woman of the Parish of Cornforth was unanimous.
Picture of Pat on the day she was presented with the award of Freewoman of Cornforth
Pat was awarded the status of Free Woman of the village and presented with a framed copy of the award at her home, in April 2010.
Sadly Pat died a few months later in February 2011.
Pat was buried at Holy Trinity Church.
There is a seat inscribed with her name on it in West Cornforth Community Centre.
Thanks to Pat’s son Michael and her brother Keith for sharing their memories of Pat. April 2020
