Dame Patricia Routledge 1929-2025
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge CBE, who attended Birkenhead High School Academy in the 1940s. Embodying the Birkenhead High School values, and those of the Girls’ Day School Trust, Dame Patricia spoke with conviction and was unafraid to think differently. She has left an indelible mark on our school, through her uplifting support and patronage, helping the next generation of girls and young women pursue a career in the arts and supporting them to become leaders and future change makers.
Her career in musical theatre has served as an inspiration to budding artists for many generations and we are incredibly fortunate to have her as our most generous benefactor. It was thanks to a donation from Dame Patricia that our school was able to fund a production of Annie. In the same week that Dame Patricia was one of the dozen Dames to join Queen Camilla to enjoy the works of Shakespeare, she also found the time to give positive encouragement to everyone taking part in BHSA annual school production. In addition to her uplifting support of our current students, Dame Patricia has also established an incredible legacy to enable the next generation of Birkenhead High School Academy students to pursue a career in the arts. We are hugely grateful and humbled to be in a position to give out the annual ‘Dame Patricia Routledge Award’ for outstanding performance in the Theatrical Arts at the school’s annual Prize Giving.
She will be dearly missed, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this time.