AN active member of society who helped establish one of the first farm shops in Cambridgeshire has died aged 69. Alice Elbourn, known as Pat, died peacefully in the early hours of January 12. Pat and her husband Robert ran Elbourn Apples Farm Shop, in Whi

AN active member of society who helped establish one of the first farm shops in Cambridgeshire has died aged 69. Alice Elbourn, known as Pat, died peacefully in the early hours of January 12. Pat and her husband Robert ran Elbourn Apples Farm Shop, in Whitecroft Road, Meldreth. Pat was born in 1936 in Edinburgh, but her family moved to Dundee during the Second World War. Pat's links to Melbourn were forged during her secondary education at Hawnes Boarding School, where she became friends with Jill Elbourn - she later married her brother, Robert, in 1957. Their married life started in the village where a bungalow was built in one of the orchards belonging to Robert's family. Pat and her mother, Betty, were founder members of the Royston Royal National Lifeboat Institution branch during the 1960s. Her daughter-in-law, Nicky, said: "Pat was actively involved with the RNLI until her death. "During the 1990's she worked as a secretary for the Cambridgeshire Society for the Blind and the Guide Dogs Association. This led to voluntary work with blind people at a local level in Meldreth and Melbourn." Pat was also involved with the Triggs Trust, Meldreth Mobile Warden Scheme, the Melbourn Village Hall Committee, and the parish council. She leaves her husband Robert, sons Chris and Tim, daughter Kate and eight grandchildren. Nicky said: "She will be sorely missed by both family and friends.