Patrick R C Ellis – 8th September 1936 to 24th January 2023

Many of you will be saddened to hear of the death of Patrick earlier in the year.

His wife, Anne, reminded us how Patrick started his close involvement with the village:
When Patrick retired he did a 3 year course on local history at Nottingham University. He was required to choose a village on which to base his course work & when he found his Mother was descended from the village of Great Gidding he choose us! He completed the dissertation in 2000 & in 2001 was asked by the Parish Council to help write  a Millennium history of Great Gidding with David Shepherd. He took the village to his heart, made numerous regular trips to the village, had many happy memories & made some wonderful friends. He wrote two further books on the history of Great Gidding in 2015. He stressed to me it was important it was known he was a descendent of the Brawn family! 

Mike Keck has an abiding memory of Patrick visiting the village which would be of him sitting at the dining table with a glass of Rioja, regaling on either the Brawn family or the symphonies of Sibelius.

Julie Trolove would like to add – Great Gidding owes a great deal to Patrick, he generously gave his time, knowledge and skill to produce the history books, entertained us at many meetings and events, made us think about what was around us and under our feet, and where our small village fitted into history.  

Our condolences to Anne, his family and friends.