A Nantwich woman aged 101 years old has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for almost six decades of service to amateur dramatics.
Pauline Patricia Knifton Hough has been awarded the BEM for services to theatre and to the community in Nantwich.
A lifelong participant in amateur dramatics, she has been a key member of the Nantwich Players for 57 years.
She is one of 94 people across the North West celebrated in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List 2026.
Nantwich News revealed in December 2024 how Pat celebrated turning 100 with family and friends.
Pat served as Nantwich Players President for 37 years (1983–2019) and performed on stage in around 50 different parts.
As a key leadership figure and ambassador for the theatre, she was instrumental in successful grant applications and helped grow both the membership and audience size massively during her tenure.
She was instrumental in the acquisition and refurbishing of the former Quaker Meeting House in 1979, which serves as NP’s theatre and headquarters to this day, including securing grant funding and personally engaging in extensive fundraising efforts.
She oversaw significant infrastructure projects, including a £1.3 million development project to expand the theatre in 2009, and implemented numerous improvements like new technical equipment, central heating, and a hearing aid loop system.
The continuous improvement efforts resulted in the theatre becoming a modern facility, which has opened up new revenue streams by allowing NP to rent the space to other theatrical companies and youth drama competitions.
Mother-of-four Pat also tread the boards on a regular basis with character parts in some 50 productions while also housing the costume store in her barn near Nantwich.
Among her stage credits were The Corn is Green, Bedroom Farce, Ghost Train ,The Card, Victory V, When We Are Married, Hobsons Choice, Love on the Dole and Sidney and the Sunshine Stealers, Ladies in Retirement, Out of the Ashes and more.
Daughter Pam, from Tarporley, said: “Mum was born in Derby, the youngest of four girls, with her next sister 14 years older.
“In many ways she was brought up an only child and at seven, when sent to boarding school, she filled lonely evenings playing imaginary games and writing poems and plays.
“She took part in school plays and public speaking competitions and won many awards. Her first major role came after the war, playing Portia with the Derby Shakespeare Society.
“In 1947 she married John Hough and although as a family we moved around the country, living in Scotland, Wales and England, mum always found an outlet for her love of amateur dramatics joining various groups.
“For many years she was also with the WVS later to become WRVS, delivering meals on wheels and was awarded a 20 year long service medal.
“In 1967 the family moved to Nantwich where she continued her WRVS work and sat on various committees including the NSPCC, Cancer Research and Action Research.
“In Nantwich she found an outlet for her creativity and love of acting and theatre, joining the Players around 1968.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Across the UK, people are quietly changing lives and strengthening their communities. This Honours List is a chance to recognise them.
“Their dedication shows how lasting change is built – through compassion, resilience and a commitment to others.
“It speaks to the decent, hopeful country we are proud to be, and on behalf of the whole nation, I want to say thank you.”
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