TRIBUTES have poured in for Copeland Council’s former CEO who has ‘lost her enduring battle with cancer’ aged 50.
Pat Graham led the council as managing director from 2015 and then as chief executive from 2018 until December 2022, when she retired due to ill health.
She has been described as a ‘force of nature’ and a ‘true leader’ who was ‘incredibly intelligent’, ‘funny’ and ‘determined’.
Born in Cleator Moor, Pat attended St Patrick’s Junior School in Cleator Moor and St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven. While still at school, she did work experience at the council.
She attended Manchester University where she completed a degree in town and country planning followed by a second degree in planning.
Her first job was as an assistant planner at Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council. She later joined Durham County Council as a senior planner and then went on to Teesdale District Council as strategic planning manager.
She joined Copeland Borough Council in 2008 as head of development operations and worked in various positions during her rise to the top.
Pat has been credited for leading a council that became the first UK authority to buy itself out of a Private Finance Initiative and managing the organisation through the devastating interstate cyber-attack.
She was instrumental in negotiating the external funding that resulted in Whitehaven Campus and more recently, the multi-million pound Town Deals, flood prevention scheme and setting up the council’s unique social inclusion team.
Pat was also the brainchild behind the Industrial Solitions Hub (ISH) which will transform Cleator Moor.
A devoted wife and mother to three children, Pat treasured spending time with her family.
Leading the tributes to his former colleague and friend, Mike Starkie, the former elected mayor of Copeland, said: “I have received many messages since the news broke that are full of tributes to one of the most remarkable people I have ever encountered.
“Pat Graham was as many of those messages described, a one-off, a force of nature, very talented, incredibly intelligent, a visionary, an entrepreneur and she had a work ethic second to none.
“Pat retired due to ill health from her role as Copeland’s outstanding CEO at the end of last year.
“Pat has been at the heart of making so much of the good that happened possible.
“I am so sad that circumstances ended Pat’s career in its prime and her life when she still had so much to give, but I am grateful she was the council’s Chief Officer for virtually all of my term of office.
“Pat completely rebuilt the council, enabled strong relationships with partners from all sectors and has some unique achievements to her name.
“Pat Graham is one the Copeland’s most significant figures in recent times and her place in Copeland’s history for positive contribution is assured.”
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “We all need role models in life, and in 2010 when I started my first full-time role as a regeneration officer at Copeland Borough Council, Pat Graham was mine.
“Like me, Pat was a mum, but she was also part of the senior leadership, a highly respected professional and a fierce protector and champion of Copeland and all that we stood for.
“I know she was proud of our nuclear industry and worked hard to bring investment into our communities. I also know she cared deeply about every employee at Copeland Borough Council, she fought hard to get the best for us.
“We have lost the woman who led our council, and Pat’s family and friends have lost so much more, I cannot comprehend their suffering at this tragic time.
“Please accept my deepest condolences and know that my thoughts, and those of my community are with you all. The hundreds of heartfelt messages, remembering Pat so fondly are testament to who she was, what she did and how greatly we shall miss her.
“I can only hope that the greatest ambitions that Pat had for our area can be realised as her legacy, as we owe her that much and I’ll work with everyone who shares that mission.”
Jamie Reed, former Copeland MP, said: “With the passing of Pat Graham, west Cumbria has lost perhaps its greatest champion.
“Fiercely intelligent, passionate and always effective, few things – if anything – were ever achieved in our community without Pat. She loved this place, its communities and its people and she devoted her life to making our lives better.
“She fought for us like she fought her illness; with strength, courage and a wicked sense of humour.
“As Copeland Council’s first female Chief Executive, she was its last and its best.
“In the thousands of conversations I had with Pat over many years, two things remained constant; her care and ambition for us and her love and devotion for her family.
“We will not see her like again.”
Hazel Blears, chair of Well Whitehaven, said: “I first met Pat Graham seven years ago when I came to live in Cumbria. She was totally committed to Whitehaven and to local people and was determined to make sure life got better especially for the young.
“We established Well Whitehaven as the vehicle to make things happen and she made it fly. There was no stopping Pat when she had an idea and she knew how to persuade and cajole companies like Sellafield to join the plans to improve peoples’ lives.
“Pat was a force of nature and has been taken away far too soon. She was funny, creative, committed and determined to make a difference. She was deeply loyal to her family and all of our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“It was a privilege to work with her and the community will miss her deeply. Her impact on Whitehaven can be seen all around – from the Bus Station to the Harbour - she will leave a real and lasting legacy.”
Mike Graham, chief of staff to Trudy Harrison MP, said: “Pat was a truly remarkable lady who I had the pleasure and good fortune of working closely with for a few years in my capacity as political adviser to the elected mayor.
“We seemed to hit it off from the start.
“Pat was totally committed to Copeland Council and its employees. A true leader who was inspirational, fair minded, highly intelligent and one of the best communicators I have ever met.
“Her sense of humour was infectious and her laughter and smile sometimes diffused difficult situations.
“Colleagues and partners liked her immensely and she seemed to have time for everyone.
“Pat was clearly devoted to her husband and her three children and they were her priority.
“There are a thousand things I want to say but perhaps the most fitting is that Pat, it was an absolute privilege to know you and I shall miss you terribly.”
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