Patricia Batty Shaw

Patricia Batty Shaw, CBE (born Patricia Heckels, 1928-2004) was a chairwoman of the United Kingdom's National Federation of Women's Institutes. Patricia Heckels was born at Epsom, Surrey, England, on 18 November 1928. Her father was a general practitioner and medical officer to the Derby horse race. She was educated at Wimbledon High School, and trained as a medical social worker (almoner) at Southampton University. She then worked at Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital. She married Anthony Batty Shaw, a consultant physician, in 1954 and took his double-barrelled surname. They later lived in Norwich, then nearby Barford, where she joined the Barford and Wramplingham Women's Institute, becoming its secretary. She became the National Federation's chair of education, vice-chair, and eventually in 1977, its chair. She also served in other voluntary roles, for example chairing the Norfolk Rural Community Council; as president of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association in 1993, and county president of the Girl Guides; and as a magistrate and chairman of the Wymondham bench. She appeared as a "castaway" on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 22 July 1978, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1981. She died in June 2004. Her husband and daughter survived her.