Mum Of The Year Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Pam Clarke

In 1991, Pam Clarke was told she had stomach cancer.

She had beaten throat cancer thirty years earlier, but this time she was told the cancer was terminal.

Against all expectations, Pam recovered from the cancer that should have killed her. It had a profound effect on her outlook and she determined to make the most of the time she had been given and her work has touched the lives of thousands of people in her local area of Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

“I realised how short life is. It felt as though I had been given a second chance and I made promise to myself that I wouldn’t waste a minute of the extra time I’d been given.” She said. Ever since, Pam was already active in the community, but has dedicated all her spare time to local organisations and fundraising for charity.

Our judges said: “Pamela is a selfless lady with boundless energy. The sheer amount she does is both astonishing and inspirational.”

To give you an idea of the boundless energy she has, here are some of her achievements:

In the past 40 years, she has made thousands of costumes for the Ilkely Amateur Operatic Society as its wardrobe mistress.
She has put off knee replacement surgery because she is determined to finish the costumes for this year’s show, The Wizard of Oz.
Pam became a Brownie in 1935 and has been part of the Guiding movement ever since. She was recently involved in raising £200,000 for a new Scout hut.
Every year she makes and sells hundreds of pots of jam, curd and preserves to raise money for both the guides and the operatic society.
She was one of the founders of Ilkley’s first playgroup
She taught at the local swimming club for more than 20 years.
Known in Ilkley as ‘Aunty Pam,’ she tries to be a mother to those who don’t have a mum.
In recognition of her services to the community, Pam was presented with a MBE from Princess Anne on behalf of the Queen.

As well as working five days a week in her local Tesco, Pam, our colleague award winner, is a carer to her husband of 65 years, Bruce, 90, who is blind. She also finds time to support her daughters Deborah, 51, and Katherine, 49, and four granddaughters, despite being diabetic herself.

Pam, who was nominated in the Tesco Mum of the Year 2014 Awards by her store manager Marie Toora, thought she was too old to be nominated! She is, of course, delighted to have won the Lifetime Achievement Award and says:

“I’ve got more out of working with charities than I’ve ever given and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I like to feel involved and that I am contributing. I still have lots I can do and, to be honest, I’d be a right misery if I didn’t keep myself busy!”

You can read about the Inspiring and Extraordinary winners in Tesco Mum of the Year categories on the Tesco Living website: www.tescoliving.com. Winners will be presented with their awards at an event in Central London next weekend, which I will be attending. I hope to get the chance to chat to Pam and give her a hug!