Nepal hospital wards built due to legacy of business pioneer

Pat Merriman was a well-known island resident until her death in 2017.

She left her estate to the Leprosy Mission, which has used the funds to construct a trauma and emergency centre, just south of Kathmandu.

Miss Merriman came to live in Guernsey almost by chance.

A close friend, and one of her executors, Stephen Ainsworth, explained the story.

‘I remember being told by Pat that I needed a holiday and should take one in Guernsey,’ he said.

‘She then called me into her office a few weeks later to share her idea about setting up a Guernsey office and to suggest I should move to Guernsey to lead it.

‘As the Guernsey office developed and evolved into BWCI, Pat spent more and more of her time here and played a key role in the business life of the island. She came to Guernsey almost by chance and fell in love with it. She was on the Guernsey International Business Association committee for many years.’

Miss Merriman was the first female partner of a consulting firm of actuaries in the UK and only the 10th woman ever to qualify as a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

‘Pat had to force herself into what was very much a man’s world when really she was quite a shy lady,’ said Mr Ainsworth.

‘In a business context she was a real pioneer in the industry.’

Mr Ainsworth said he missed Miss Merriman’s friendship and intellect greatly.

‘She was very generous to a number of charities and had always supported The Leprosy Mission’s work. Pat had no family so left her estate to charity.’

The new earthquake-proof trauma and emergency centre is at the Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital which has previously been supported by many of the churches in Guernsey, especially in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes which killed 9,000 people.

Donations from islanders helped to provide medical care to 2,000 earthquake victims and thousands of relief packages containing emergency food and shelter.

Guernsey’s Overseas Aid & Development Commission paid for an eco-friendly waste water system.

Nepal’s Minister for Health and Population, Bhawani Prasad Khapung, officially opened the new facility.

‘This has been a great occasion,’ he said.

‘This hospital is fundamental not just for people affected by leprosy but for all the people of the area. I am extremely grateful to the donors for their support.’

Mr Ainsworth, a partner at the BWCI group, said he planned to travel to Nepal to see the impact of Miss Merriman’s generosity.

‘She was a great believer in equality and fairness. This was demonstrated in her reaching out to people affected by leprosy who live on the fringes of society,' he said.

Miss Merriman’s passions included gardening, reading, playing bridge and singing. She attended St Martin’s Mission and always supported the work of The Leprosy Mission.

Her generosity can be enjoyed in Guernsey in the beautiful Pat Merriman Peace Garden at Les Cotils, which was made possible following a donation from her estate.