Former teacher Patricia Stokes celebrates 100th birthday at Highcliffe Nursing Home with card from HM King Charles

A FORMER teacher has received a card from HM King Charles to mark her 100th birthday.

Patricia Stokes, nee Beesley, was also presented with a birthday cake from staff at Highcliffe Nursing Home, where she has lived since her late 90s. After opening her cards and gifts, she then enjoyed a celebratory tea with her extended family and friends at the home.

Known as Pat, she was born and raised in Oxford and later served in the Royal Observer Corps during the war.

She joined the Federation of British Industries in London and travelled extensively in Europe as personal assistant to the director-general for British overseas trade fairs.

Pat married Mudeford resident Geoff Stokes in 1960, initially living in Cowes, Isle of Wight, where their son Jeremy was born, before the family moved to Highcliffe in 1966.

In 1968 she enrolled as a mature student and after graduating as a teacher in 1971 taught initially at Twynham School in Christchurch and later at Brockenhurst College.

In retirement Pat and long-time teaching colleague Wendy Ford ran Highcliffe Community Theatre Group and she supported Highcliffe Community Association and local history and ramblers’ groups.

With Geoff she visited France with Christchurch Twinning Association, before he died in 1997. Pat later visited New Zealand and with global volunteer movement, Soroptimists International, travelled to Japan, USA and Europe.