I WAS sad to hear of the death of Mrs Pat Blake (LET, December 20), even though it was not completely unexpected after her lengthy spells in Blackburn Infirmary and Tameside Hospital this year.

She achieved great things despite having very few advantages. She had the courage, selflessness and resolve to understand and deal with peoples' problems. She was a convinced Christian who wanted her faith to be put into practice.

She worshipped at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church for many years and, more recently, at St James' C of E Church, Winterton Road, Darwen, when her health made it difficult for her to travel to Saint Joseph's.

After I started working in St James' parish, I soon became aware of the poverty and other problems local people have to cope with.

Pat was a person who understood those problems from first-hand, and in trying to deal with them she was one of the founders of the Saint James' Community Association to represent the people who live on the local council estates.

She dealt with councillors and council officers at every level, the police, local industry and many others, and was universally accepted and appreciated by them as a person who did what she did because of her personal kindness and desire for justice.

I hope that more people will try to carry the torch of Christian love and justice that Pat carried so faithfully.

REV JOHN FARADAY, Parish Church St James', Darwen.

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