Patricia Goddard was bombed out three times during the war. Now, inspired by Captain Tom, the 92-year-old is walking laps at her home to raise money for the NHS.
Patricia Goddard was bombed out three times during the war. Once in London, once in Windsor and once in Bath.
Now, inspired by 100-year-old Captain Tom who has raised over £32million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden, the 92-year-old is walking at her home to raise money for the same cause. Patricia has a target of £1,000 and at the time of writing has already raised over £880.
Pat, who has four children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, spoke as she was half way through her 100 laps for charity, walking along the corridor outside her sheltered flat at Audley Court in Saffron Walden.
She told the Reporter: “Similarly to Captain Tom, I felt this was something I could do. I have always admired the NHS.”
Originally from London, Pat was a keen amatuer actress and after moving to Saffron Walden was a member of the Saffron Players.
She still has excellent diction.
Her husband Eric was a tenor who sang in Gilbert and Sullivan.
She was 11 when war broke out. She remembered: “We were bombed out three times. Twice, we were a direct hit.
“he first time we were under the stairs. That saved us. It’s surprising how strong staircases are. The house fell down around us, the bomb fell in the back garden.”
The family moved to Windsor and got bombed again there. This time Pat and her mother were under a Morrison Shelter - made of steel, these were like a tabletop inside the house.
Pat’s father was in the Admiralty, based in Bath and they were bombed again having moved there.
She said: “That bombing raid was a nasty retaliation raid (for the RAF bombing of Lübeck). Bath was an open city. There were no guns to defend us, they were able to machine gun the streets.”
But after the war, she said the houses were rebuilt “exactly as they were” and so her family were able to move back home. “We were back to square one.”
A JustGiving page has been set up by Pat’s granddaughter Rosie who said: “Patricia misses seeing her friends and family but is excited to have a new adventure to talk about on the phone and hopes to be able to raise a bit of money for a great cause along the way.”
To donate, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/patriciagoddard-grandma
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