"Pat was a lady with firm beliefs"

Wednesday 22 January 2025

Pat Mellor has been remembered as a lady with "firm beliefs who stuck to her principles" after her death at the age of 76.

The "loved" wife of the late Kenneth, mum of Matthew and Verity, nana to Zachary, Elizabeth, and Chloe, and sister of Valerie, passed away on Thursday 16 January.

Her family announced that she had died peacefully, at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, and they plan to hold a private cremation for her.

This morning, the Bailiff paid tribute to Mrs Mellor, who had served as a politician in Guernsey between 1988 and 2004.

Sir Richard McMahon said she always had a "hands on approach" to her work.

This was evident he said during her "long stints" as the Vice President of both the then-Children's Board and what was formerly known as the Education Council.

She had worked closely with former-Deputy Jean Pritchard on the Children's Board recalled the Bailiff, who said "the pair had three significant successes". These involved persuading the States to finance a refuge for women suffering from domestic abuse, leading the project to modernise Guernsey's Children's Legislation, and persuading the States to reduce the homosexual age of consent.

Pictured: Pat Mellor's work in the island will be fondly remembered by many. (With permission of Walkies Guernsey)

Some of Mrs Mellor's other work, such as her desire to see the end of the 11+, took longer to achieve - with the results often not realised until after her retirement.

The Bailiff reminded the current-States this morning that some of the matters she had campaigned for "are still at the forefront of some members minds". 

In a personal recollection, Sir Richard shared how he had worked with Mrs Mellor on the States Traffic Committee when she was President for her final two years in the States.

"It was as a legal adviser to that committee that I remember Pat best, and I possibly still bear the scars.

"Long term parking provision was reduced to ensure commuters did not fill spaces intended for shoppers, and in 2003 her formidable skills of persuasion led this assembly to agree to introduce paid parking to fund Guernsey's bus service. Despite that landmark vote, this assembly subsequently went on to reject every proposed level of charging put forward for paid parking.

"In 2002 along with 13 other signatories, Pat led a Requette to the States on 'Death with Dignity', instructing the Advisory and Finance Committee to bring a report to have the law changed to allow voluntary euthanasia. Whilst it is more than 20 years since she left the States, these are matters that are still at the forefront of some members' minds.

"It is fair to say that Pat was a lady with firm beliefs who stuck to her principles. As a member, Pat had a hands on approach to politics. When the Board of Administration denied members' claims that methane was escaping from the former Bordeaux landfill site, Pat invited the media there. She then took out a box of matches and proceeded to produce what she described as a 'Christmas pudding effect'. She had proved her point, and a proper venting system was installed swiftly thereafter, while Pat gained the nickname of 'Methane Mellor'.

"Her longer term nickname in the States was simply 'Pitbull' as a testament to her uncompromising approach to politics. However, it was a nickname she reveled in, and she was also known for her strong wit and a sense of humour."

Mrs Mellor moved to Cyprus after retiring from politics. However, she and her husband Ken, who had been her childhood sweetheart, returned home due to his declining health. 

The Bailiff said they had loved their time in Cyprus, but it was in Guernsey that she died, spending her final years close to her friends and family.

He extended sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren and wider family, before the States paid tribute in the traditional way by offering a period silence for Mrs Mellor.

Pictured: (inset) Pat Mellor.