Tributes have poured in for a respected figure of the Manx educational and charitable communities, who has died aged 86.

Pat Corrin OBE, who died on September 14, had committed her time to many organisations including being the chairman and president of Cruse Bereavement Care, a committee member for the Manx Music Festival and being involved with Manx Blind Welfare for more than 40 years.

In 2001 she was presented an OBE by the Queen for her services to Manx education, young people and charities.

The former Buchan School teacher was also one of two Manx people to attend Princess Diana’s funeral along with her husband Jack, whom she married in 1961.

In later years Pat suffered from dementia, which her friend Olga Gray MBE said meant that ’she was completely robbed of hearing the accolades of her pupils’.

During Pat’s funeral, which took place at St Ninian’s Church in Douglas, Olga said: ’Pat herself had a beautiful speaking voice and spoke poetry in its purest form, a talent she passed on to her pupils.

’As one of my most loving, loyal and much loved friends, I feel sure Pat would wish me to express the words that she herself, due to her illness, has been unable to speak for some time, to say "thank you" to her beloved Jack and daughter Jane for their years of unfailing and constant love, absolute devotion and unending care.’

In 1986 Pat was responsible for the transition of Ballakermeen High School in Douglas to a ’through school’ for pupils aged from 11 to 18.

Present head teacher, Adrienne Burnett, was appointed not long after.

Mrs Burnett said: ’Pat Corrin taught me so much as my chair of governors. We would regularly meet and Pat would have my written head’s report in front of her, with neat red marks in the side.

’Oh how I dreaded being taken to task for any grammatical errors, or infringements. However, never wanting to let Pat down made me a better writer.

’She certainly guided me in my early years as a head teacher and much of the success of Ballakermeen is because of her wise counsel and mentoring.’