Auntie Pat — rest now, peacefully in the arms of the Lord, 2026.
What can you say about a lady who was my “second mum” for more than half my life? She was always there—whenever I needed advice, a friend, or simply support—and there was always a hot meal and a cup of tea waiting.
I have so many happy memories of 150 Prince Consort Road, where I must have spent a vast portion of my formative years.
She was a guiding presence in so many of the major decisions of my early life—leaving the North East for Manchester, and later moving from the UK to the Middle East. It was always Pat, Dennis, and the wider Kerridge family I turned to for advice, guidance, and support. For all of them, I will always be deeply grateful.
She had a remarkable gift for bringing peace where there was trouble—whether through a kind word or a gentle arm around the shoulder. I will always miss the quiet little messages she would send at special times, even after I had made a life in another country, always ending with “God bless.” Even without recognizing the handwriting, you would always know who it was from.
“One in a million” feels far too small a phrase to describe such a truly lovely woman. The love we all saw between Dennis and Pat—grown and nurtured within their family, both close and extended—was rooted in their devotion to the Lord and shared so freely with everyone they met.
I will always be thankful for the lessons I learned from “Auntie Pat,” for the times we shared, and for the example she set: a life devoted first and foremost to her Lord, then to Dennis, Peter, Gwyn, and Beth. And somehow, she still found the time and energy to care for the rest of us too.
I truly believe that everyone who knew her was changed for the better by that experience. Gateshead will never be the same for me; a shining part of it has passed—but it will never be forgotten.
David Vickers
15/04/2026
