Judith Pattison

Judith, who has died aged 65, was born in Ampleforth following the evacuation of Bootham School, York, where her father, John Kay, was a teacher.

She was John and his wife Guendolen's youngest child and went to Ackworth School and Queen Ann Grammar School in York.

After leaving school, she trained and qualified as a State Registered Nurse at York County Hospital. When it closed, she moved to the newly-built York District Hospital where she was a staff nurse in the children's ward, remaining there until taking early retirement due to ill health.

She loved music from a young age, and in her teens joined the Clifton Hospital Amateur Operatic Society, and when it folded, became a member of the New Earswick Amateur Operatic Society. Between 1971 and 1996 she appeared in 56 of its productions, becoming its publicity officer and a life vice-president.

Like music, horses played an important part in her life. She owned her first in her teens and kept a horse up until about six years ago.

She was a keen hunter and competed in show jumping and dressage and having first ridden in the Kiplingcoates Derby while still a schoolgirl, she once again completed the course when in her early 40s.

She was a serious walker, completing both the Lyke Wake Walk and Striding Edge in the Lake District, and as a cyclist she joined the Cyclists Touring Club and the Roughstuff Fellowship. Youth hostelling in Scotland left her with an enduring love for that part of the world.

She was a member of the National Trust, the North York Moors Railway, and belonged to the RSPB.

Judith was operated on for a brain tumour in early 1997, but singing continued to be an important part of her life and she was soon back on stage, now with the Occasion Choir, based in Copmanthorpe, with whom she took part in 53 concerts, the last being a few days before her health seriously deteriorated in March.

Some three years after her operation, her condition returned, but she refused to let it slow her down. She led an active life, setting herself annual targets. These included a theatre workshop in London which culminated in an appearance in an extract from Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre.

Judith was married to Albert Pattison, Secretary of the York Senior Cricket League for 44 years.

She is survived by Albert and their daughters Samantha and Emma, and three grandchildren.