Born in Birstall, near Leeds, in 1931, before later moving to Batley, it was not until 2001 that Pat and her husband, Sid, decided to settle in Knottingley where they could be closer to their son Nicholas who has lived in Knottingley for a number of years.

Pat’s professional singing career began at Jim Windsor's Audition Club in Leeds; a very popular venue with auditions being held every Friday evening. The year was 1948 and Pat was just seventeen. This was the post-war period in Britain, just three years after the end of the Second World War, and the austerity that had existed throughout the country during the hostilities was starting to disappear as a new Britain began to emerge. It was a time when people were eager for change and were ready to embrace it to put behind them all the worries, anxieties, loss and turmoil that had been part of their lives for so long.

Winston Churchill, the Conservative leader, who had been Prime Minister throughout much of the Second World War, had been superseded in the General Election of 1945 by the labour party minister, Clement Attlee. With the public’s desire for sweeping social reforms, the newly appointed Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, was given the task of introducing the National Health Service as part of the government’s ‘cradle to grave’ welfare-state reforms. The National Health Service Act of 1946 came into effect on 5th July 1948 and subsequently became an integral part of British society, culture and daily life. For the first time in Britain’s history, its citizens no longer had to pay to see a doctor when they were ill.

In post-war Britain, housing was in short supply, and overcrowding was a common feature, with many people forced to take in lodgers to make ends meet. It was not unusual for more than one family to share a two-up and two-down terraced house, with no bathroom and just an outside toilet. 1948 was also a time when food and clothing continued to be rationed and the ration book, unheard of in today’s society, was a necessary part of everyday shopping for Britain’s households.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Pat's father, who had been in the Territorial Army, was a regular soldier stationed at a small village called Craven Arms in Shropshire. He was billeted in nearby Walcott Hall which Pat recalls was a stately home set in the remote countryside of the Welsh Borders which had been taken over by the Army. Pat’s father enjoyed singing and comedy and she remembers him singing and performing comedy routines for the Forces. At the age of eight, Pat, who enjoyed singing and dancing herself, joined her father on stage for the first time to perform a duet.

Pat left school in 1945 at the age of fourteen and began her working career at a local mill but she continued to have a great interest in entertaining and particularly enjoyed singing and performing comedy. Jim Windsor's Friday night Audition Club in Leeds was a focal point for Pat, and one Friday night she was spotted there by an agent, a Canadian gentleman by the name of Charlie, who organised concerts for the troops. Charlie chose his own artists, and offered Pat her first job, which she remembers with excitement and was delighted to accept. She joined the rest of Charlie's company, entertaining the troops at Catterick Camp; her first venue in what was to become a long and happy career. For the next few years, Pat developed her career under the stage name of Patty Newton. During this time she met a fellow entertainer, a lady by the name of Olive Messenger, and together they formed a singing duet known as ‘The Polken Sisters’. Pat and Olive were spotted singing together by another agent in a club in Doncaster, and both were immediately signed up for the TV show ‘King Rat’ in London.

In the same year that Pat met Olive, she also met Sid Wilson, the man who was later to become her husband. At the time, Pat was singing in the Spread Eagle roadhouse in Gildersome, with a pianist and drummer as backing for her act. Her favourite songs were the popular ones of the day made famous by artists such as Shirley Bassey, including the hits ‘Big Spender’ and ‘This is my Life’.

[photo] Pat and ‘The Kenny Hainsworth Four’; a rock and roll group led by Pat’s brother Ken. Photo submitted by Pat Wilson.

Pat enjoyed the thrill of a new challenge and she expanded her career further by joining her brother Ken, singing with him in his Rock and Roll group, ‘The Kenny Hainsworth Four’. Ken, a very talented guitarist, entertained his audience with many of the well-known favourites of the day; songs such as ‘Marie Elaine’ were always a tremendous success. Ken also sang rock and roll, and was a first class singer with a wide repertoire of songs; ‘Johnny Be Good’ being just one of them. The group’s numbers increased to five after Pat had joined them, with Ken playing lead guitar, Jack on rhythm guitar, Douggie on bass guitar, Malcolm on the drums and Pat as vocalist, singing all the current popular songs recorded by artists such as Cilla Black and Cathy Kirby. Later, Pat added to her act by incorporating a number of roaring twenties routines. When the Twist became popular this was also included in the act, with Pat and her friend Betty Berry, doing the Twist together on stage and both of them wearing the 1920's style, short fringe costumes.

The entire group had planned to travel to Germany together to tour at the same time as the world famous ‘Beatles’ were also performing in Germany. Their drummer, however, was deemed too young to go on tour at that time and the group, who were very loyal to each other, did not want to go and leave him behind. Although Pat fully understood, it was still a great disappointment to her that this part of her career had been left unfulfilled.

Eventually, after Kenny's group had gone their separate ways, Pat continued her singing career and joined another group called, ‘Goofus and the Hayseeds’, staying with them for about five years until sadly, one of the group’s members, Eddie Brown, died.

After Eddie’s death, Pat left and formed her own group which included her sister Christine and Christine's son Ian. This time they called themselves ‘The Hainsworth Sisters and Ian.’ This was another very enjoyable era for Pat, and it was only after Christine had left the group that Pat decided to continue on her own and she began to sing solo for the first time. She decided to use part of her son Nicholas’ name and performed under her new stage name of Patti Nicholls.

As well as singing locally in Scarborough and in various clubs, Pat has also performed overseas in Yugoslavia, and in 1976, she sang for the Armed Forces in Germany. Her opening number at the time was Lisa Minelli's ‘Cabaret’. She has also performed at many other venues including charity concerts.

It was while working in Scarborough that Pat was introduced to the manager of a Jazz group who offered her the opportunity to sing with a Jazz band in Paris. This was to become the highlight of Pat's career; a time she remembers with great affection. She sang in a top Jazz cellar in Paris, where the great Louis Armstrong had once performed as well as Lionel Hampton, the great American jazz vibraphonist. Pat recalls that there were many Jazz clubs in Paris during the 1980's, but the two most popular places for dancing were the Caveau de la Huchette and the Slow Club.

The Caveau de la Huchette was located just across the river from the Notre Dame, on the Rue de la Huchette, one of Paris’ oldest River Gauche streets and was vividly described as a “hot, crowded cellar”. The Slow Club was on the Rue de Rivoli, near the Louvre, and was recorded in a local Paris newspaper as being “slightly more civilised” and with “good New Orleans Jazz”. Pat still has the newspaper cuttings from these Jazz Clubs. Her costume for these venues would be a red shirt, black leather trousers and a black trilby. The Jazz clubs were always packed, and Pat, who sang from 10pm until 4am, describes a fantastic atmosphere.

Sid and Pat's accommodation was near Paris’ most famous nightclub, the ‘Moulin Rouge’ and she recalls it as being a magical time. She also met the most famous trumpeter in France and loved to listen to him playing, "I'm Confessing That I Love You" in the Slow Jazz Club.

Access to the Caveau de la Huchette was down a steep flight of circular stone steps which Pat recalls felt very claustrophobic. The Jazz band played on a stone stage while at the back of the stage was another large stone slab which acted as a door, but which was always ajar. The drummer sat with his back to the stone slab and through the gap could be seen the city lights, while below was the river, the sounds of which could be heard by the entire band. Pat states that it was common knowledge for this to be known as the ‘Priests Hole’, where priests who were kept prisoner would be thrown down into the murky river. Little wonder that it felt claustrophobic!

During her stay in Paris, although there was very little opportunity for sightseeing, there was time for Pat and Sid to visit the shops, and during one of their shopping trips, Pat managed to buy herself a Paris dress; a blue sparkle one that she has kept to this day as it brings back so many wonderful memories.

On her return from Paris, Pat received a script from her agent to audition for the 1986 film, ‘Rita, Sue and Bob Too’, directed by Alan Clarke, in which she was offered the part of ‘Sue's’ mother. The film portrays a realistic story of working-class Yorkshire life in which two schoolgirls have a fling with a married man. The location was the Buttershaw estate in Bradford, and the production company rented empty flats from the council for the film crew to shoot some of the scenes; a far cry from the jazz clubs of Paris!

Pat has performed in seven scripts in all, her favourite being a play called, ‘Birdcatcher’, with Michael Elphick. She also enjoyed filming ‘Looks and Smiles’, a 1981 film directed by Ken Loach, acting alongside ‘Archie’ from Emmerdale, who played her son in the film.

Although comedy has always been a favourite of Pat's, she did not incorporate it into her act until much later in her career, when it was introduced to her by Johnny Lees who was an actor in Coronation Street. Johnny was a singer and comedian and Pat was introduced to him when he was working in the clubs.

Another dimension to Pat’s career was presented to her with the opportunity to appear on a live Tyne Tees TV comedy show entitled ‘Night Line’, where she worked alongside well-known artists such as Charlie Drake, Kenneth Williams, The Barron Knights and Denise Coffey.

Pat has continued to entertain and in 1998 she was runner-up in the final of Whitbread’s ‘Senior Citizens Nationwide Talent Contest’, held in Southport, performing in a comedy and singing routine about ‘age’ to an appreciative audience of eighteen-hundred people.

Pat states that she has enjoyed her career immensely and has met many interesting people, some of these being Harry Secombe at Batley Variety Club, and ‘Millican and Nesbitt’ at Blackpool.

One of the many special friends Pat has made during the course of her long and happy career is the renowned Vera Duckworth of ‘Coronation Street’. They met during the 1970's and have remained friends to this day. At the original auditions, Liz Dawn won the part of Vera Duckworth, and Lynn Perry got the part of Ivy Tilsley. Pat herself, had intended to audition for a part in Coronation Street, but was off work ill at the time and was unable to make the auditions. She did later appear in two episodes, in one of which she played a girl in the factory.

Pat recalls that during one filming, Vera Duckworth was standing at the bar of the Rovers Return doing her part, when all of a sudden her false teeth slipped out and landed over the other side of the bar. Filming was halted until Vera had collected her teeth and the whole crew had managed to stop laughing!

Pat’s career has been varied and interesting and she has enjoyed singing just as much as she has enjoyed performing comedy. Amongst the many shows she has appeared in are the ‘Blitz Balls’ featuring wartime songs such as ‘Bugle Boy in Company B’, and also ‘The Showstoppers’, a show she has been associated with for twelve years.

[photo] Pat and some of her friends enjoying a break in Scarborough. Photograph submitted by Pat Wilson

At one time, Pat owned her own shop in Batley called ‘Hainsworths Fun Fair’, where she made stage, historical and fancy dress costumes for both children and adults alike. Throughout her career, Pat has been active in assisting the work of charities whenever she could by singing in hospitals, halls, clubs and hospices, and raising funds for such worthy causes as The British Legion, the Samaritans, the Kidney Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Heart Unit at Killingbeck Hospital, the NSPCC, Riding for the Disabled, and many other charities.

Now in her seventies, Pat continues her charity work at the Prince of Wales Hospice shop in Knottingley. Along with her friends she also continues to sing in the Bar Lounge at Kellingley Social Club in Knottingley. “Singing is wonderful for everyone and is very enjoyable”, she says.

Pat Wilson was speaking with Delna Evans, August 2007.