Pat Syrett Hon ROI (1933 – 2025)
After a long and fulfilling teaching career which culminated in her becoming a very respected and successful Head Teacher, Pat Syrett was offered a post as schools inspector, but she chose not to accept this offer, preferring instead to spend her retirement enjoying her passion for gardening.
When husband Dennis Syrett became President of the ROI in 2004, Pat took on the role of Treasurer, which she held for the next seven years. She assisted the Society in many ways and was an integral part of, and a valuable asset to the ROI for many years.
In 2008, Pat was elected an Honorary Member of the ROI in recognition to her many years of service and devotion to the Society.
Long serving ROI Council Member Roger Ferrin said:
“Pat was always kind, friendly and very encouraging – a lovely person”.
ROI Secretary Luis Morris recalled his first encounter with Pat as a newly elected Associate Member at his first Annual General Meeting in 2007:
“During the meeting I was deeply impressed by Pat’s obvious command of the inner workings of the society, and the respect in which she was held by everyone in the room. After the meeting she came and chatted to me, wanting to know all about me and when I told her that I didn’t really know anyone in the society, Pat took me around the room and introduced me to everyone there. By the end I truly felt a part of the ROI’.
Sue Scott, Pat’s successor as ROI Treasurer, wrote:
“I remember Pat as a beautiful, warm hearted and very patient lady. Patient as she was guiding me through the role of Hon. Treasurer as she passed on the baton. Pat was also a wealth of knowledge which she freely shared, not just on the financials, but on the history and governance of the ROI, why things were done this way to achieve that result”.
“She also passed on how important relationship building would be with members of the FBA team. Working in a federal structure most of my working life I understood and fully endorsed this sentiment! What was extra special and hard to replace was the Pat and Dennis ‘team’ with each adding specialist knowledge and personal empathy to each other’s role to the benefit of the society. A wonderful gift to the ROI purpose and Membership”.
‘Pat in the Garden’, by Dennis Syrett FROI
Lucy McKie, former ROI Secretary, FBA Trustee and Education Officer, said of Pat:
“When I first began submitting paintings to the ROI, Pat and Dennis were incredibly warm, welcoming and encouraging. Pat was always so keen to help young painters and was a constantly supportive presence at the private views which can be quite daunting for new artists!”
“As I got to know Pat over the years I learnt how passionately she loved the ROI. She was immensely proud of Dennis and his tremendous talent as a painter and his kind guiding presence when President of the ROI. During my years as Hon. Secretary for the society Pat was always there to offer advice and inform me of the ROI history, which was invaluable. She was an extremely intelligent lively woman with a warm mischievous sense of humour, which was wonderful”.
“Her great love for the ROI and her hopes for its strong future had an impact on so many of us. She showed how important it is to inspire younger artists, and the huge effect that compassionate support can have on an artist’s confidence. Pat truly understood the power of encouraging young painters and the positive effect that can have, which remains at the heart of the ROI”.