Pat Dryden

We have received sad news that our director, Pat Dryden, has passed away.

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our dear friend, colleague and long-standing company director of Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport, Mrs. Patricia (Pat) Dryden.

Originally from South Yorkshire, Pat came to visit a cousin in Llanwrtyd Wells and met her husband Jonathan in the Neuadd Arms in May 2005. They were married at St David’s Church in 2007.

Pat did many jobs in her lifetime, Shop Assistant, Cleaner, Barmaid, Hairdresser, Admin Person. She ran her own shop making and selling celebration cakes and pastries, and she was a Semi-professional Singer in the Northern Working Men’s Clubs and theatres. Pat worked with the elderly and younger disabled in Social Services and for Age Concern. She was interested in holistic therapies, massage, Reiki healing, and aromatherapy.

Pat first became involved with LWCT in February 2019 when she volunteered to do some admin work for the company.

Pat became a Company Director in August 2019, and with her late colleague June Parkinson, in partnership with our General Manager, Laura Burns, had the vision to see a successful LWCT in its current format. The core managing team realised that, given the challenges faced by our scheme members at the beginning of Covid-19, our community transport services were more important than ever.

During the uncertain times of the pandemic, in early 2020, Pat was a quiet, wise voice of reason, compassion, and understanding. She was always supportive of staff and management, especially when the company needed to relocate its operational base.

Pat was responsible for creating and writing our monthly newsletter, she drafted many of our company policies and procedures, and numerous other things, including, along with her fellow Directors, ensuring the finances of the company remained sound.

Pat had also been involved in other local community affairs, as Senior After-school Cub Leader at Ysgol Dôlafon, and Town Clerk to Llanwrtyd Wells Town Council. Also, HR Advisor for Powys Teaching Health Board, and Admin Person to Llanwrtyd and District Heritage and Arts Centre.

Those of us who were lucky enough to call her our friend know that Pat had a strong sense of right and wrong. She was always an enthusiastic supporter of all aspects of the services that LWCT offers the community. She will be greatly missed by all those who were lucky to know her.

Pat signed off all her emails as follows: –