Pat's Boutique - open for three days only this week

A unique pop-up fashion boutique will be open for just three days this week in Weston, selling designer clothes and accessories including a rock musician’s stage outfits, to raise vital funds for Weston Hospicecare.

The shop is called Pat’s Boutique as it will be open in memory of Pat Daniells, the journalist-turned PR professional who died aged 53 on August 23 last year after a two year battle with cancer.

Pat, who lived in Banwell for 13 years, had a real passion for fashion so her family has decided to open the shop for three days on March 26, 27 and 28, (Friday Saturday and Sunday) to sell the large collection of clothes and accessories that she built up over the years, which is what Pat asked for.

Alongside Pat’s own designer dresses, suits, shoes/boots, hats, coats and jewellery, the collection includes a Stella McCartney dress, and some of rock star Mike Oldfield’s Armani stage suits.

Everything will be sold off to raise money for Weston Hospicecare, which cared for Pat at the end of her life and also provides free palliative care and support to about 1000 people with life-limiting illnesses each year in the North Somerset area and neighbouring parts of Somerset.

Pat’s husband John Hutson said: “Pat loved to dress up and spend ages swapping around different outfits with footwear, jewellery, scarves, coats, hats etc, and was worried what would happen to everything when she died. So we suggested the idea of opening a boutique and holding a fashion show to raise money for the hospice and she thought it was a great idea.

“Pat really wanted her collection to raise lots of money for the hospice which cared for her so brilliantly, as well as the family. So we want the boutique to be a celebration of Pat's life and style, as well as raising funds and awareness for Weston Hospicecare.

“She had accumulated a huge collection over the years and I used to joke that come the revolution villagers would ransack the house and spread her massive shoe and boot collection across the croquet lawn to show what a decadent life she led, in the style of Imelda Marcos.”

Pat, who was working for Weston MP John Penrose when she became ill, is fondly remembered by all who knew her as a real-life version of Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous, with big blonde hair, a bottle of 'Bolly' in one hand and an infectious and bubbly character who had a wonderful lust for life.

Pat’s Boutique will be open at 26 High Street, next to the WHC shop, Weston-super-Mare, on March 26, 27 and 28 only.