Pat Bishop (nee Donovan), Hon MA 1986, recently passed away at the grand age of 104.

The University used to award the Pat Bishop Prize for Theatre for student drama. She founded and became an active member of the Bath University Student Theatre (BUST) society and attended their 50th anniversary as a guest of honour in her 90s.

After leaving the university, Pat continued to hold a love and passion for student theatre at Bath and remained an active performer well into later life, attending weekly tap dancing and Pilates classes.

She will be fondly remembered by students she directed, and colleagues from the university during this period.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

Here are the recollections of her secretary, theatre assistant and friend Glenys Gill:

Pat, better known to all as 'Aunty Pat', joined the University of Bath in 1974 as a part-time (a misnomer) Director of Drama and the Arts.

I met Pat in 1976, we had been working as film extras on ‘Joseph Andrews’ in Bath and had spent the day in the Pump Rooms doing a very rumbustious jig for several hours with heavy ballgowns, wigs and makeup, we were very sweaty but loving every minute of it when she suddenly said, ”I need a secretary, fancy coming to work for me”, well of course I said “Yes” and it was the start of a wonderful ten year working relationship that I will treasure forever.

Her first office was located in the cleaner’s broom cupboard under the stairs of the Small Hall. Later to take up residence in the goldfish bowl office at the head of the stairs from where she had a good view of the campus and could knab a student or staff as they passed by.

Pat was a creative powerhouse. No one could say no to Pat, she had that warm but wistful look that you simply couldn’t say no to. If any School or department in the university had a home sick student, they would send him or her to see ‘Aunty Pat’ who, would immediately take said person under her wing. Many a career was changed by contact with this persuasive, kindly and enthusiastic pocket rocket.

Throughout her tenure at the University, she brought together students and staff in extra curricula activities in music, theatre, dance, visual and creative arts. Directing and acting in many student and staff productions as well as running Post Graduate drama workshops and residential Theatre and Arts Summer Schools at the Arts Barn and Art Sheds.

Each year Pat encouraged students to enter Festivals, and the Uni Library had, at one time, a cabinet full of cups and shields including the prestigious Bristol Evening Post Rosebowl Award for Best Production for, ‘The Accrington Pals’ that both she and I appeared in, this was a joint staff and student production.

All her productions, especially the Christmas shows at the Uni were outstanding sell outs, coach parties filled the auditorium from Bath and as far away as Stratford Upon Avon and Swindon where Pat directed local amateur musicals in her ‘leisure time’.

When Pat decided to retire to Poole with her husband Alec in 1986, she asked me to apply for her job, I did but knew I wouldn’t be considered as I had gone into theatre without academic qualifications and so we both retired at the same time.

Whilst working with Pat, she coached me through my Guildhall and LAMDA teaching qualifications and encouraged me to take my B,Ed (Hons), a BA and then an MA all in theatre studies and I continued to work within the theatre profession until my retirement. We always kept in close touch and I am now embarking as an octogenarian on my PhD, and it’s all because of this wonderful, enthusiastic, kind and encouraging woman.

I want to thank the Bishop family for their generosity, for sharing Pat with us all, and for allowing us to become a part of their extended family. Pat will always be my role model, my mentor and my friend. I will miss her dearly and I will hold her in my heart forever.

Pat’s long-term collaborator and friend, Pip Millard, shared some memories of her time with Pat:

I studied European Studies (French and German) from 1981 to 1985 at the University of Bath. I joined Bath University Musical and Operatic Society (MOGS) in January 1982 to perform Oklahoma directed by Doreen Draper and Robin Jackson as musical director, with Pat playing the part of Aunt Eller. I met my husband Paul Millard in this production, and we are still married 39 years later! We have both also performed in many other musicals directed by Pat - Half A Sixpence, No No Nanette, Trial by Jury, The Zoo, Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo, Songs from the Shows, La Belle Helene, Calamity Jane, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Sound of Music, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

In my second year at university, I was a lodger at the home of Pat and Alec (Alec was a Maths Lecturer at the University of Bath) - I remember my rent was £9 a week and the arrangement was that Alec had to endure my student cooking skills two nights a week whilst Pat was out directing shows!

Pat was Barry Cryer's sister-in-law, and they were part of a wide circle of well-known comedians. I remember once making jam sandwiches for Willie Rushton whilst living with them!

Something that made a great impression on me was how Pat and Alec rarely locked their front door, as they wanted everyone to be welcome at any time.

My family has stayed in close contact with Pat and her family ever since, visiting her at her home in Poole and more recently Leamington Spa, having regular phone chats and sharing news about our grandchildren, and great grandchildren in Pat’s case. It has been a huge privilege to know Pat and her family, learn from her vast experience and be part of the immensely enjoyable world of musicals!

She has been a dear friend and fantastic role model, and we will miss her.