Pat Durrans Fundraiser and tennis player

AT Durrans, who has died, aged 80, was an active fundraiser for the RNLI and with her husband Geoff shared an abiding interest in tennis.

The granddaughter of Alderman Bennie Gray, a former Mayor of Huddersfield, Pat grew up in Gledholt and attended Greenhead High School before training in secretarial studies in Leeds.

She spent nine years at David Brown Gears in Lockwood before working as a typist for Huddersfield CID for two years. Following a career break to raise a family, she worked as a secretary at Ben Shaw’s for 26 years until retiring in 2000.

During retirement, she became involved in the Huddersfield Ladies Lifeboat Luncheon Club which her mother Tess Bennett set up almost 60 years ago. Pat served on the committee and helped raise thousands of pounds for the lifeboat service.

Pat and Geoff, of Waterloo, met as members of Longley Tennis Club and were married for 53 years.

Pat was an active member and player at Longley for over 60 years and served as secretary and subscriptions secretary.

She chaired the Huddersfield and District Tennis League committee and played badminton at David Browns and Nomads badminton club.

Pat and Geoff were also committee members of Huddersfield Jazz.

The couple have a son James and a daughter Lesley and six grandchildren, Thomas, Luke, Genevieve, Callum, Freya and Ben.

Lesley said: “Pat was a very active person and continued to take part in fundraising events and outings until last December.

“She was an outgoing, friendly lady who was well liked by many and was involved in many aspects of Huddersfield life.”

Her funeral was held at All Saints’ Church, Almondbury.