Pat Shute
Colleagues will be sorry to learn of the death, on Tuesday 8 March 2022, of Mrs Patricia (Pat) Shute, former member of staff in the University Library.
Pat joined the library in 1973 as a library clerk working in the Parkinson Building extension, which held the modern history and language collections, before a new ‘west building’ extension was built at the rear of the Brotherton Library. During this time she also became the main stalwart of the inter-library loans service based in the main Brotherton Reading Room. She loved connecting with the students, and became an expert on locations of collections, sourcing resources for staff and postgraduates.
Throughout her time at the University she made friends with many other inter-library loans staff from all over the country. She was a well-known and much-loved member of staff and always had a fabulous tale to tell. She was very warm and caring and an attentive listener. She was fiercely proud of her Scottish roots (originally from Montrose) but loved living in Leeds which she had made her home for well over fifty years. She retired in 1995 but always kept in touch, at all times interested in how the library was fairing. She was truly unique, one of a kind, and will be sadly missed.
The funeral service will be held at 2.30pm on Monday 28 March at Lawnswood Crematorium, followed by a funeral tea at Weetwood Hall. For colleagues wishing to attend, the family have requested bright colours to be worn and no flowers please – donations can be made to Friends of Ripon Hospital. The flag on the Parkinson Building will be flown at half-mast in Pat’s memory on the day of the funeral.
Posted in: Obituaries