A Forfar woman who contributed in many ways to the town through her love of sport, music and charitable work has died peacefully at Ninewells Hospital, aged 85.
Pat Bell was a former County tennis player and champion at Forfar Tennis Club, but was also well known through her involvement with the RNLI, Forfar Inner Wheel Club, Forfar Golf Club and as a music teacher.
Educated at Forfar Lower Academy and the Higher Academy, Mrs Bell (nee Whitaker) was a tennis medallist at Forfar Academy.
She first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of eight when she and Betty Thornton were the only juniors at Forfar Tennis Club.
She went on to play in the first division of The Midlands League and played for the Midlands District.
Mrs Bell won Forfar Tennis Club’s ladies singles championships four years running before leaving Forfar after her marriage in 1952 to John Ramsay Bell.
Prior to her marriage she was a member of St John’s Episcopal Church, playing the piano for the children’s Sunday school and also the organ on occasions.
She joined Forfar East and Old Church after her marriage and played the piano for the Ladies Guild. She also formed a junior choir that comprised mainly children from the Sunday school.
She was a member of the Guild committee for a number of years and sang in the choir.
After her marriage Mrs Bell and her husband moved first to London, where she played badminton for a year, before moving to Edinburgh in 1954 when she went to play at Blackhall.
She competed against clubs including Colinton and Dean, playing club matches in the first division. She won the singles for five years in succession and won the ladies doubles and mixed doubles.
Mrs Bell was selected at Craiglockhart to play for the East of Scotland and won her colours as a County player before she and her husband returned to Forfar in 1970.
She joined the Games Club, Broughty Ferry and again played for The Midlands League before retiring from tennis after 49 years to join Forfar Golf Club where she was a past captain.
Pre-deceased by her husband in 2004, she is survived by their daughters Susan and Alison, son Ramsay, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.