20th August 2023
All the team at iSH are devastated to hear the news of Pat Graham’s death.
Pat was a true visionary, a guiding light for so many of us.
She devoted so much of her life to making a positive difference to people’s lives.
Brought up in Cleator Moor, she was passionate about making Copeland, and West Cumbria, an even better place.
In her role as Chief Executive of Copeland Council she did so much to make that a reality.
In recent years Pat was a driving force behind the formation of iSH, and the organisation’s mission to improve the economy of West Cumbria.
As Chair of our Board, Pat was generous with her time and commitment, bringing her expertise, energy and enthusiasm to help shape our organisation and determine what we can achieve for our wider communities through collaboration.
Pat’s boundless passion combined with common-sense pragmatism and sheer will to make things happen, means her legacy will live on not only for this generation but for generations to come.
Our Managing Director John Maddison said: “Without Pat’s drive, tenacity, leadership and support iSH simply wouldn’t be where it is today.
“Copeland was exceptionally lucky to have Pat as its leader, iSH was very lucky to have Pat driving it forward, and I was personally very lucky to get the opportunity to work closely with her and learn from a truly inspirational leader.
“We all feel immensely proud and lucky to have known Pat, and privileged and committed as ever to continue Pat’s inspiring work and play our part in her legacy.”