The funeral of a woman who fought tooth and nail to establish the first wine bar in Hertfordshire was held on Friday, with staff from the restaurant where the bar once stood spilling out onto the street to pay their respects as the cortege went past.
Pat Reeves was passionate about the Elizabethan Wine Bar in Stevenage Old Town’s High Street, which she opened about 40 years ago having been granted a licence despite widespread opposition from pubs in the area.
Her husband, Peter, said: “It was very controversial and every pub was against it.
“She was a very hard-working and independent person and had always wanted to have a restaurant and wine bar.
“She ran it at lunchtimes and it became very successful.
“She was a character and people knew her.”
Born in London’s Drury Lane, Mrs Reeves moved to Stevenage with her husband in 1964 and had one son, Phillip, and two grandsons, Thomas and Charlie.
The building where the Elizabethan Wine Bar once was is now Turkish restaurant Misya Meze and Grill, which has recently opened.
Mrs Reeves lost her battle with cancer on November 22, aged 78, and her funeral on Friday was held at Harwood Park Crematorium in Stevenage.
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