Patricia DEVRIES

Runner-up to Joan Lister in the 1947 British Junior Championships, Patricia Devries won the title the following year. However, she never won a senior British title, as she was unfortunate to be competing at the same time that Jeannette Altwegg was at her peak. The winner of the Northern and Midland Regional Championship at Manchester in 1952, it was to be a memorable year for Devries, as she competed at the Olympics, World and European Championships, with a 12th place finish in the Worlds being her best result.

After the Olympics, Devries took part in ice cabaret and exhibitions, and in 1953 married speedway rider Freddie Williams, shortly after he won his second world title. The couple honeymooned in South Africa for four months, but it was a ‘working honeymoon’ as Williams rode with the touring British speedway team, while Patricia was in big demand for ice exhibitions.

The couple had three children. Their two daughters were both good show jumpers and eventers, while son David played on the European PGA Tour between 1980-96. He never had a Tour win, but had one second place, when he was in a six-man play-off for the 1990 Atlantic Open in Portugal, won at the first extra hole by Stephen McAllister.