Pat Evans

Name: Pat Evans
First Appeared: 12th June 1986
Last Appeared: 17th May 2016
Played by: Pam St. Clement

Pat Evans, the legendary matriarch of Albert Square, had a life as colourful as her iconic earrings. Born in Walford in 1942, Pat was the youngest of four children. Her early years were marked by family drama, including the tragic disowning of her sister Joan, who had Down’s syndrome. Pat’s teenage years were no less eventful. After leaving school at fifteen, she tried her hand at modelling and even won the title of ‘Miss Butlins’ in Clacton. It was there she met Frank Butcher, sparking a tumultuous love affair that would span decades.

Pat’s love life was a whirlwind of passion and heartbreak. Frank was just the first of many lovers, but their affair was complicated by his marriage to June Simmonds. Pat’s involvement with shady club owner Tony Cattani led her into the underworld, where she worked as a prostitute. This career choice strained her relationship with her family, especially her brother Jimmy. Despite the chaos, Pat found moments of stability, marrying Pete Beale and having two sons, David and Simon. However, her infidelity and the uncertainty of Simon’s paternity led to their divorce.

In 1986, Pat returned to Walford, stirring up old tensions and new dramas. She revealed to Pete that he wasn’t Simon’s father, leading to explosive confrontations. Pat’s promiscuous reputation followed her, and she even dabbled in prostitution again. Her reunion with Frank Butcher in 1987 reignited their old flame, and they eventually married in a classic cockney style. However, financial troubles and a tragic hit-and-run incident in 1992 led to Frank’s breakdown and departure, leaving Pat to pick up the pieces.

Pat’s resilience shone through as she navigated life without Frank. She found love again with car dealer Roy Evans, who offered her a stable, albeit platonic, relationship. Their marriage faced challenges, especially with Frank’s return and subsequent affair with Pat. The drama peaked when Peggy Mitchell exposed their affair to the entire pub, leading to Roy throwing Pat out. Despite these setbacks, Pat’s indomitable spirit saw her through, and she eventually reconciled with Roy.

In 2003, her world turned upside down when Roy discovered she had been covering up an affair between Barry’s wife, Natalie, and Ricky. Roy, thinking Pat was still hung up on Frank, suffered a fatal heart attack. With Roy gone and Barry evicting her, Pat found herself homeless and struggling in a grotty bedsit. But if anyone could bounce back, it was Pat.

The drama didn’t stop there. Janine, ever the schemer, married Barry only to push him off a cliff the next day. Pat, disgusted by Janine’s actions, lied to the police to implicate her in Barry’s murder. Pat then found herself working at the bookies for gangster Andy Hunter, who left her his house when he was murdered. Reuniting with Frank, Pat’s life was a rollercoaster of emotions and betrayals, but she always managed to land on her feet.

In 2006, Pat had a brief fling with Patrick Trueman, which ended in a feud with his wife, Yolande. She also discovered that her mother had lied about her sister Joan’s death. Pat’s world was rocked again in 2008 when Frank died of cancer. Despite their tumultuous past, Pat and Peggy supported each other through the funeral. Pat stayed in Walford to help her granddaughter Bianca, proving that family always came first.

Pat’s later years were filled with health scares and family drama. She suffered a heart attack in 2010 and needed a pacemaker. Her friendship with Peggy grew stronger, and they even ran for council together, only to unite against a two-timing journalist. Pat’s relationship with Janine remained rocky, especially after discovering Janine’s plot to frame Stacey. But Pat’s biggest challenge came when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2011.

On New Year’s Day 2012, Pat’s health took a turn for the worse. She was visited by friends and foes, including a taunting Derek and a remorseful David. In her final moments, Pat reconciled with Janine and convinced her to keep her baby. Pat’s death left a void in Albert Square, but her legacy of resilience and drama lived on. Her funeral was a testament to the impact she had on everyone around her, with many residents paying their respects to the unforgettable Pat Evans, including the long-absent Simon.

In May 2016, an ill Peggy began to hallucinate the smell of cigarette smoke and eventually saw Pat sitting by her. As they reminisced over their time together, Peggy revealed her intention to commit suicide, wanting to die on her own terms. Pat, ever the loyal friend, promised not to leave her side and watched sadly as Peggy took an overdose of pills. Pat’s life was a testament to resilience and loyalty, leaving a lasting impact on everyone in Albert Square.