I first came to know Betty (and Tom) around 1980 on the "opera convoys" run by Ted and Dorothy Pettinger, who lived on Whalley Road, to Opera North performances at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. Betty taught at the same school as Dorothy. We shared cars and took it in turns to drive to Leeds for the 8 or 9 operas per year performed by the newly formed Opera North. We also shared our journeys with Helen Holdsworth from Huncoat. I have very happy memories of chatting to Betty about her family, as she always seemed at her happiest and most animated when she talked about the family. Although I did not meet them, I felt that I knew them as I followed the rich tapestry of their lives that was just as moving and beautiful as anything we saw on stage. After I moved to live in Leeds, our little group still met in the front stalls of the theatre each season, but eventually it came to an end, as Ted and Dorothy moved to Scotland and age made travel difficult and Tom died. I still kept in touch with Betty every Christmas and visiting her for her 90th birthday celebrations three years ago provided us with a delightful reunion. There was, however, something very special that only Betty and I shared in our little group of opera goers, and that was our Catholic faith. I admired Betty's deep commitment and faith. I marvelled at the fact that she was able to walk to weekday Mass and acted as a Eucharistic Minister at St Mary's until she was 90 years old. I shall always remember her as a devoted Mother to her large family and as a kind and generous woman and as a devout Catholic who kept the faith to the end. I arranged for a Mass to be said for Betty at my church in Leeds the week after her death and I attended the Mass and reflected on the fact that I had been privileged to have known her. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Ann O'Brien
Leeds
Ann O'Brien:
20/09/2019
