Star of Tiverton stage and "absolute legend" Patsy Clements remembered

Patsy, who lived in Tiverton, died following an illness on Saturday, January 4 aged 83

Tributes have been played to a star of the Tiverton stage and “absolute legend” Patsy Clements.

Patsy, who lived in Tiverton, died following an illness on Saturday, January 4 aged 83. Friends gathered for a celebration of her life at Tiverton Rugby Club on Friday, January 24.

Patsy was born in Castle Street, Tiverton, on July 19, 1936. She moved from one property in Castle Street to another with her parents, before buying her accommodation in the same street.  While working for Sweb, she lived briefly in a flat in Exeter. In her later years, she lived at John Greenway Close in Tiverton.

John Roberts, who regarded Patsy as a member of the family, said it was nice to see so many people from different stages of Patsy’s life reminiscing and enjoying memories of her.

“Patsy wanted those friends from different stages of life, enjoying each other’s company, talking, reminiscing, laughing and remembering her the way she wants to be remembered,” he said.

“The last few weeks, we spent time with Patsy in her illness, and there was a calm acceptance and bravery, which fits in with her usual distinct humour and ability to not suffer fools gladly. She told me exactly what I should be doing when she passed away.

“You’ll all have your own stories and memories, and I think the constant theme of friendships. She had so many great friends throughout her life.”

Patsy had travelled the world including trips to Russia and the USA.

John added: “She’s managed to visit Russia which I think is pretty remarkable and something she always wanted to do, and also went to the USA and had a drink at Pat O Brien’s bar in New Orleans. 

“My memories include Patsy, Gill Shaw and my mother Christine drinking, having a good time and embarrassing me, particularly when the three of them got together. Patsy tried to kiss me many times as a young lad. One of my last conversations with Patsy, she asked if she could kiss me now. Seeing those three together was not a particular joy as you never knew how it was going to end but something, I look back now with fondness.

“She was part of the Mudlarks, which I never understood the concept of. It was a middle-aged, female Last of the Summer Wine type of situation, but they seemed to go on loads of adventures enjoying each other’s company, doing lots of different things.

“Patsy’s Christmas present was always easy. I would give her whiskey, and she would provide me with mint sauce. I never got to understand why, as a vegetarian, she gave me mint sauce, but the whiskey bit I’m sure she always enjoyed.

“I have fond memories of Joyce Burt and Patsy on stage, with her talent and character in a small-town production, they were fantastic. You never forget the dry wit of Joyce and Patsy’s role in producing so many pantomimes.

“I was reminded in the book documenting the 150-year history of Tiverton Rugby Club that Patsy wrote and performed with Joyce on stage with the club. I also had forgotten she played in one of the earliest women’s rugby field. Seeing Patsy on a rugby field must have been a pretty fearsome sight. No doubt it would be after a few whiskies.”

Chairman of pantomime group, the Tiverton Signpost Club, Ally Harcombe, said she was a devoted member to the club for more than six decades.

She said: “Everyone in Signpost knew her and she was always greeted with a cheery hello a big smile and if you knew her well enough, maybe a rude or cheeky comment.

“She was still there at last year’s panto in the foyer selling programmes, checking up on the cast and generally making everyone laugh. She’s being missed this year.

“Patsy was an amazing female dame - one of the few -, but she was very naturally funny, and I understand that being on stage with her meant you’d struggle not to end up giggling at her antics. As well as playing the dame, Patsy started to get involved in scriptwriting by adding to and adapting the panto scripts with Margaret Batting.

“One story that has been shared with me of Patsy’s days on stage was when she belted onto the stage and crashed into the back of the camel, causing the poor rear end to almost collapse. At one performance one of the stage crew, Les Cruwys, decided to go in the back of the camel instead. When Patsy threw herself at it, she described it as like hitting a brick wall, swore and promised to get the bugger that was in there.

“Despite her undeniable talent and superb stage presence, Patsy still suffered from stage fright and would regularly have to run to the loo before going on stage. Mike Morrell told me that he had to fill for her on one performance until she ran on stage, whispered in his ear ‘oh that was a lovely s**t’ then in the same breath turned to the audience with ‘right then boys and girls’.

“She always had a bottle of honey and lemon in her dressing room, but funnily enough it smelt more like whiskey.

“Patsy’s love of Signpost grew and grew even after she retired from the stage. She has always been there, helping to form the new committee after the sad loss of Margaret Batting and taking on some of the responsibilities to keep the club going. She was always ready to share her delight and pride in how Signpost has continued to grow and grow.

“She used to come in each Saturday after we’d finished our Signpost Kids classes to pick up the money as she used to do all the banking.

“Me, my daughter Georgia and the other girls that helped, used to look forward to those little visits from Patsy. She’d come in and sit down with us for a bit, grin like a Cheshire Cat when she saw all the subs that we’d taken which she thought was bloody marvellous and tell us in no uncertain terms to keep it going girls.

“She was always checking up on how the script was going and how rehearsals were going and was determined that Signpost should continue to be successful like it always has been right back to those early days for Patsy.

“Well Patsy, I promise you that we will continue to do our very best to keep Signpost and the tradition of local panto going in Tiverton. But bear with us, we are a little sadder right now, we are missing that lively, funny, friendly, lovely lady in the foyer.

“At the moment thoughts and conversations of Patsy make us a little sad as it’s hard to lose you, but our memories make us smile, laugh and remind us how very much you meant and still mean to us all.

“You were a one of a kind, talented, hilarious and a much-admired character who we feel blessed to have had in our lives. Thank you for that Patsy, you’re an absolute legend.”