Pamela Margaret Kettles (14 Oct 1940 - 25 May 2021)

In loving memory of Pamela Margret Kettles who sadly passed away on 25th May 2021 just five months after Roger, her husband of nearly 58 years, also passed away.

Pamela was better known to all as Pam and preferred to be addressed as Pam. (One certainly got an over-the-glasses look if you called her Pamela!)

Having spoken to many of you about Pam, there are many words we hear repeatedly regarding her. A very kind, intelligent, thoughtful and helpful, people-person, Pam was a great organiser who liked being at the centre of things. Strongly opinionated and strong- willed, she was also a very outgoing, talkative individual who was a force of nature and had a wicked sense of humour.

Born 14th October, 1940 to Geoffrey and Elizabeth Baggaley during The Blitz in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Pam was the eldest of three siblings with brothers John and Steve joining her later. Due to the war Pam had to move in with the wider family in Totley, Sheffield for a few years before then settling in the family home, The Beeches at Old Colwick. There she grew up with her brothers with whom she maintained a very close relationship throughout her life, together with John and Steve’s own families.

After attending Nottingham Girls High School, Pam finally graduated from Loughborough College as a Librarian, going on to work at the Central Library on Angel Row, Nottingham.

During this time, Pam was introduced to Roger Kettles by mutual friends, Barry and Sybil Dabell. Roger became her husband on 1st June 1963 and her lifelong partner until almost her very last days.
In the late 60’s Pam was blessed with the arrival of Andy, followed by twins Kate and Fran very soon after, creating a family of her own with Roger. This was a busy, sometimes chaotic household, with Pam stopping work for several years to raise her young family. This helped her forge close ties in both the local community and ‘The Circle’ where we grew up, especially with the White’s, Green’s, Morris’, Cheeney’s and Swallow’s.

Pam was a busy lady who liked to be at the centre of things, active in supporting many local groups and organisations which she continued to do until only a few years ago. Pam was a particularly active member of the St Pauls Church community, providing much support to both the Church itself and also to members of the congregation.
In time Pam returned to work as a Librarian. However this time it was at West Bridgford Library where she became very well-known, both in-branch and across the South Notts villages with her twice weekly forays on the mobile library. She finally retired from this role in 2005.
When Granddaughters Jess and Izzy came on the scene Pam was enormously proud and used to love seeing them climbing the fir tree in the back garden.

Pam had many hobbies and interests. These included music (classical and modern), choir (singing alto), football (introducing her son to Nottingham Forest matches on the terraces in the glory days), cricket (listening avidly to Test Match Special), being an armchair rugby supporter (ear defenders were a must), cooking, sailing (when younger), geology, geography, history, art (including visits to Rome and Paris) to name but some. She was also an avid reader (useful with being a librarian) of a wide range of fiction and non-fiction material and had a great love of animals, a varied collection cats and dogs living with us over the years.

However, it is her passion for horses for which Pam will be best remembered. Starting when young, Pam always loved riding horses and then in 1983 our lives were to change forever when she bought her first pony called Tizzy. This passion was to take off and become all-consuming. Where there was one horse, soon there were two and then three. Eventually, with breeding horses and collecting others from here, there and everywhere, there was a herd of up to eleven horses at one point. Some were kept on a few acres she bought near Keyworth and on which she also built stables. This became the centre of most of the immediate family’s universe, but other horses were scattered across the UK, too.
Her particular passion was breeding and showing Arabian horses around the country, with Roger in tow, leading to long lineages and success in winning the Novice Ridden National Championship at Malvern. Pam was most proud of this achievement with Varushkar, pet- named Smudge thanks to Pat and Fiona Grant. Further successes were to follow with her favourite horse Varaina (pet name PJ) gaining numerous qualifications for the Horse of the Year Show.

Pam tended her horses with twice daily visits to the field until just under five years ago when declining health started to take its toll, together with caring for Roger who by then was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Sadly, Pam was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago and the decline in her health was as scary as it was rapid. Her care for others had to stop and a close friend, Beryl Shaw (who Pam had previously helped in caring for an elderly neighbour, Muriel) then in turn became a huge support for both Pam and Roger. Beryl was to lead a team with Mandy Bochenski and Jean Evans in caring for Pam and Roger: my sisters and I cannot thank them enough for the support they gave us all.

Pam led a very active and happy life but Parkinson’s did bring her worst fears home to her. However, she was to pass away peacefully on her terms in the good care of Church Farm Rusticus at Cotgrave with family present.

Though Pam will be sorely missed by many people, we believe she will have found Roger and her peace with God.

Thank you Pam for contributing to and enriching the lives of so many.