A 74-YEAR-OLD grandmother who has volunteered at St Rocco’s Hospice for 35 years has no plans to stop and has received a special award to celebrate her commitment to the charity.

Pat Bate, from Grappenhall, started working in the town centre charity shops while money was being raised to open the first hospice.

Pat became the first volunteer on the morning the original Orford Avenue facility opened.

She said: “I cycled from home in Padgate, did my shift and then cycled to work.

"The morning at the hospice usually began doing the washing and ironing, going to the shops for provisions and papers for patients. I always loved what I did and the proof is that I am still doing it today after 35 years."

She said: “It really doesn’t feel like 35 years. I just always thought we should have a hospice in Warrington.”

The fundraising team at St Rocco’s credited Pat with being the person to suggest doing a moonlight walk to raise money for the hospice after she had completed the 26-mile Playtex Moonwalk for Breast Cancer.

Now the Starlight Walk is one of the hospice's biggest fundraisers.

While juggling family life, the mum-of-two also worked as a receptionist at the medical centre in Fearnhead for 20 years.

At aged 16, Pat also started volunteering as a Tawny Owl at her brownies at St John’s and is still there almost 60 years later.

Moreover, Pat ran the WRVS sweet trolley at Warrington Hospital for 25 years.

Pat was recognised for her volunteering efforts in 2010 when she received an MBE from the Queen. She said: “It was absolutely fantastic to receive my MBE, it was an experience I will never forget. I just really enjoy volunteering.”

When the current Lockton Lane centre opened a new dining room, Pat made the first cup of tea in the kitchen for residents.

In addition to her voluntary work, Pat has walked the 26-mile London Moonwalk six times in aid of Breast Cancer, walked the St Rocco’s Starlight walk eight times, walked the thirteen bridges across the Thames River in aid of Diabetes and walked the Gower Peninsula in aid of Breast Cancer.

The kind-hearted grandma has also knitted hundreds of beanie hats and blankets for babies in Gambia and sold paperback books at Fearnhead Surgery in aid of breast cancer.

Pat added: “I would definitely recommend voluntary work. It is very rewarding and can be demanding but having a supportive husband and family does help.”