Pat Sewell was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on 7 June 1961 and lived her early life in nearby Shepshed. She was educated at Loughborough High School for Girls where she gained 8 O levels, 3 A levels (French, History and Latin) and an S level in History. She read History at the University of Leeds (1979–1982) and was awarded an upper second class BA Honours Degree. The following year she gained a Post-graduate Diploma and Masters Degree in Archive Studies with distinction at University College, University of London, and was awarded the Churchill-Jenkinson Prize.
Pat’s first post as an archivist was within the School of History, University of Liverpool, but based in Brussels with the European Commission where she worked 1983–1985. Her work there consisted primarily of listing and indexing the departmental files of the Commission, together with the papers of Roy Jenkins, its former President. She also co-produced two reports on the administrative history of the Coal and Steel Community, including guides to the records available. She went on to work as Assistant Archivist on the extensive Strathmore Collection of estate records (relating to the family of the Queen Mother) at Durham County Record Office (1985–1987), followed by a period at Northamptonshire County Record Office (1987–1988).
Pat’s career with the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) began in 1988 when she was appointed Assistant Archivist at Calderdale Archives. She became the Principal District Archivist for that Office in 1997. She later occupied more senior service-wide positions, in 2010 as Collections Development Co-ordinator and, from 2014, as Remote, E-services and Enquiries Co-ordinator.
Pat was deeply committed to WYAS, particularly in Calderdale where she soon became a much-valued colleague and highly-respected local figure. During her long and successful career there she established good working relationships with the many users of the service as well as with a wide variety of external organisations and with officers of Calderdale Council, especially the Central Library staff, with whom she worked closely. There were many ways in which her sense of dedication, intelligence and impressive administrative skills furthered its effectiveness and enhanced its status. These included the well-organised and well-listed archive collections at the Calderdale Office, and the excellent work she undertook on specific major projects such as the Heritage Lottery Fund application for the new archive building at Wakefield, and the UNESCO awards secured for two outstanding collections (Anne Lister of Shibden Hall near Halifax, and Stanley Royd Hospital, Wakefield). She was also an active member of the Society of Archivists and was Regional Editor of its Newsletter 1987–1995.
Pat was deeply involved in many aspects of the life of St George’s Anglican Church, Lee Mount, Halifax. Her gift of ‘wise and logical thinking’ was much valued by others, especially in her role as Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, as co-founder of the St George’s Community Trust (which was awarded charitable status in 2014), and as leader of a Bible Study Group which was held at fortnightly intervals for twenty-seven years at her home. Pat was a fully warranted Scout Leader (Beavers) and, as ‘Blue Beaver’, helped to run the Church’s Beaver Group. In 2015 she was presented with an award for twenty-five years of service to the scouting movement.
Although Pat was not a member of the Halifax Antiquarian Society she actively helped many of the Society’s members engaged in archival research whilst they were preparing lectures or articles for the Transactions. She also submitted a detailed annual report on the Calderdale Archive Accessions, published in the Transactions from 1994 to 2011 and listing all the major deposits received each year.
Beyond the Archive Service, Pat had a full, active and well-balanced personal life. She had a deep love of history and never tired of visiting castles, gardens and stately homes. She was also passionately interested in walking, step-aerobics, music, the theatre, cinema, travel and popular culture. Pat will be remembered for being conscientious, meticulous, funny, generous, reliable and loyal to both friends and colleagues.
Pat died at Calderdale Royal Hospital on Wednesday 13 January 2016, aged 54, after suffering from cancer. She is survived by her mother, stepfather and brother.Footnote1
Notes
1. This is an amended version of an obituary compiled for the Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society and is printed here with the Society's permission. I am most grateful to several individuals, especially Rob Sewell (Pat’s brother), Teresa Nixon (Head of West Yorkshire Archive Service) and Anne Pickard (Assistant Priest, St George’s Church), for supplying information.