Patricia Ann Harris (20 Feb 1937 - 3 Jan 2023)

In loving memory of Patricia Ann Harris who sadly passed away on 3rd January 2023, aged 85 years - 15 days after David her husband of 62 years passed away

My mother was born in Chatham Kent in February 1937 and had a brother Ronald . She had a happy childhood with her father working as a quantity surveyor with the Air Ministry and working for long periods abroad . In 1952 , his posting was to Hong Kong and this was an accompanied trip . My mother travelled with her mother on The Cambodia , taking 8 weeks to sail from Rotterdam to Hong Kong with many stops on the way . There were only 3 civilians travelling on this cargo ship . My mother says they saw the world before it was spoiled . She attended King George 5th grammar school in Hong Kong and took her O levels there . They saw the Queen's coronation in 1953 on a black and white television and joined in the colonial celebrations . They enjoyed life and local culture to the full and had many stories to tell .

On her return to the UK , she enrolled in Pitmans secretarial college and became an expert shorthand writer and typist . This lead to secretarial jobs in London . She met my father David on the train to London when he occupied her regular seat !!

They married on 4th June 1960 and honeymooned in Cornwall . They had a happy life , holidaying in Europe with my mother's parents . There are many tales of car journeys on the continent when they tooted any other English car !!

I was born in 1966 and my mother gave up her career to be a fulltime Mum - which she loved . She was a real homemaker and was always there for me and my father . We all enjoyed travelling and fun holidays together .

When I went to Medical School my mother went back to work to help fund and support me for 5 years of training and after to get me on the ladder of life . We had many holidays together in the UK and especially enjoyed the USA . We have seen many parts of America and their National Parks . Her particular favourites were Monument Valley ad the Grand Canyon .

She was so delighted when I met and married Robin in 2005 . They both enjoyed cooking and it made me smile when they shared recipes and cooking tips and sampling each others food .

My Mum had a phenomenal memory . She enjoyed history and was a font of knowledge on British royalty . She enjoyed embroidery and latterly took up painting - which she was very good at - even if she didn't think
so !! She was loyal , kind and generous .

In the last 3 years she looked after my father and was devoted to making life the best it could be for him . We loved our meals out with them especially to Read's in Faversham , where a glass of rose English sparkling wine went down very well !

Family flowers only please.

Donations, if desired in memory of Patricia for St. Christopher's Hospice may be made online via this site