Death of former Times receptionist Pat

A woman who was a well-known figure in the Fakenham area in her role as a receptionist for the Fakenham and Wells Times and its sister paper the Eastern Daily Press, has died after battling Motor Neurone Disease.

A woman who was a well-known figure in the Fakenham area in her role as a receptionist for the Fakenham and Wells Times and its sister paper the Eastern Daily Press, has died after battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Pat Newstead, 68, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Before going into hospital she had been living at the St Nicholas Nursing home in Sheringham. She had also been a day patient at the Tapping House Hospice in West Norfolk.

Her husband, Bill, to whom she was married for 48 years, said Pat loved her job at the newspaper's old office on Bridge Street and in the 14 years from 1974 that she worked there she became a well-known and popular face in the town.

“Pat loved the job and was heart-broken when she had to retire after suffering a heart attack in November 1988,” said Mr Newstead.

She was born in Fakenham but moved to Wells as a toddler and she and Bill were married in the town's St Nicholas Church in 1960.

Mr Newstead said his wife enjoyed attending the Tapping House Hospice one day a week and he couldn't praise enough the level of care and support she was given by the staff and volunteers. “There are some wonderful people there and the level of care is second to none,” he said.

The couple had no children but Pat is survived by two sisters, Dawn, Yvette and a brother, John.

The funeral is being held tomorrow at the Mintlyn Crematorium, King's Lynn at 12.15pm. Donations are invited for the Tapping House Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.