# Patricia Brooker

Patricia Joan "Pat" Brooker (née Spicer; 21 November 1935 – 16 December 2015), known colloquially as Nanny Pat, was an English television personality, author and former publican. She was best known as a recurring cast member on the ITVBe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex (2010–2015).

## Early life

Patricia Joan Spicer was born at St Andrew's Hospital in Bromley-by-Bow, East London, England on 21 November 1935, as the younger child to Thomas John "Tom" Spicer (1913–1987), a painter, and his wife, Winifred Hermar "Win" (née Chipperfield; 1911–1948), a factory worker, who was part of the family who ran Chipperfield's Circus. She had an elder brother, Thomas John "Tommy" Spicer (1932–2008).
Brooker lived at 12 Bilberry House in Watts Grove for the first 20 years of her life. She attended All Hallows, Bow every Sunday morning with her mother. Her father would only attend if he had to. Her mother died from rheumatic heart and kidney trouble when her daughter was 12 years old, leaving her as head of the household to look after her father and brother.
Brooker attended Sunday school in the afternoon. She attended Devons Road Infants' School, a girls' primary school in Knapp Road. Her headmistress was Clara Grant. She attended Southern Grove School, an all girls' senior school.
Brooker was evacuated to the countryside, somewhere in Derbyshire, in February 1940, during the Second World War. She was separated from her brother. She returned to her parents in the late summer of 1940, with her brother returning a week or so later.

## Pre-celebrity

Brooker began working in the Tate and Lyle sugar factory in Canning Town shortly after she returned from honeymoon. She later worked in a newsagents.
Brooker and her husband, Charlie, owned The Rising Sun pub at 199 St Leonards Street in Bromley-by-Bow from January 1968 until around Christmas in 1970.
Brooker worked as a dinner lady at South Park Primary School in Redbridge, from 1971 until she was forced to retire in 1995, aged 60.

## Career

Brooker made her debut on the first series of the ITV2 reality television series The Only Way Is Essex on 10 October 2010. She became a fan favourite within hours of her first appearance. She appeared as a supporting cast member until series 16, making her final appearance on the ITVBe Christmas special, The Only Way Is Essexmas, which was broadcast on the day she died; the end of the episode featured a tribute to her. She also appeared on TOWIE Live and on an episode of The Only Way Is Essex: All Back to Essex in 2014. She appeared on 117 episodes.
Brooker appeared on the final episode in the fifth series of the Channel 4 comedy chat show Alan Carr: Chatty Man on 21 February 2011.
Brooker appeared on the television movie 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers. The documentary was broadcast on 23 April 2011.
Brooker attended the 2011 British Academy Television Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London on 22 May. Debenhams supplied her outfit. The Only Way Is Essex won the YouTube Audience Award.
Brooker appeared on the first episode in the sixth series of the ITV2 comedy panel game Celebrity Juice on 1 September 2011, as the "Newerer Magazine Head", during a challenge.
Brooker appeared as a contestant on the final episode in the sixth series of the ITV game show All Star Family Fortunes. The episode, "Benidorm vs. The Only Way Is Essex", was broadcast on Christmas Day 2011.
Brooker was a weekly interviewer for Love It! magazine from 2012 onwards. She had interviewed celebrities, including; Alex Reid, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Peter Andre, Frankie Cocozza, and Jedward.
Brooker appeared on four episodes of the ITV breakfast television programme Daybreak, during the run up to the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II through early February 2012. She was voted Britain's best grandmother while on the programme.
Brooker wrote Penny Sweets and Cobbled Streets: My East End Childhood (ISBN 9781447218753), her first autobiography, which was published by Pan on 16 August 2012.
Brooker appeared on the BBC Radio London programme Jeni Barnett on 26 August 2012, to promote her first autobiography.
Brooker wrote Queen of the Rising Sun: From Landlady of an East End Pub to Essex Nan (ISBN 9781447218784), her second autobiography, which was published by Pan on Valentine's Day 2013.
Brooker appeared on the ITV daytime magazine programme This Morning on 21 February 2014.
Brooker appeared on the Channel 5 spin-off Big Brother's Bit on the Side. Her episode was broadcast on 18 June 2014, in connection with the 15th series of Big Brother UK.
Brooker appeared for Week 4 on series 12 of the BBC dance contest show Strictly Come Dancing on 18 October 2014. Her grandson, Mark, was partnered with Karen Hauer.
Brooker appeared on the ITV breakfast television programme Good Morning Britain on 9 October 2015, just over two months prior to her death.

## Personal life

Spicer met her future husband, Charles Thomas "(Big) Charlie" Brooker (born 13 April 1930), a council worker, in the autumn of 1953, when she was 17 and he was 22. The couple were married at St Luke's Church, Canning Town on 19 March 1955, when she was 19 and he was 24. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey, with some of her family. They had five children together; June P Lawrence (née Brooker, formally Nicholls; born 22 June 1956), Susan J Bothwick (née Brooker, formally Adams; born 15 February 1959), Carol Ellen Wright (née Brooker; born 21 September 1960), Stephen C Brooker (born 3 September 1962), and Charles T "(Little) Charlie" Brooker (born 1963). She had 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was widowed on 28 June 2007, after 52 years of marriage.
Brooker was 75 years old the first time someone asked for her autograph. She smoked John Player Specials.

### Death

Brooker died in Dagenham, Greater London on 16 December 2015, following a short illness. She was 80. Her death was announced in a statement by the Wright family, reading: "Sadly our amazing, courageous and beautiful Nanny Pat passed away this morning after a short illness. We are overwhelmed by sadness, and the whole family ask for privacy at this time."
Tributes poured in from fans across the world. Her grandson, Mark, tweeted: "My heart is broken but so overwhelmed by your support. To know good ole Nanny was loved by so many is the best feeling in the world Thankyou". Her granddaughter, Jess, tweeted: "Heart broken does not even come close to how my family & I are feeling. Thank you so much for your support my Nan was so loved ❤️ an angel". Josh and Natalya, paid tribute via Instagram. A spokesperson for The Only Way Is Essex paid tribute, stating: "We are absolutely devastated to hear the sad news about our beloved Nanny Pat. Patricia had been at the heart of Towie from the very beginning and we will miss her terribly. Our thoughts are with the Wright family at this very sad time."
Brooker's funeral service took place at South Essex Crematorium in Upminster on 8 January 2016. Her woven coffin was carried through the streets of Essex before she was finally laid to rest. She left £437,855 in her will, which was divided equally between her five children.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2010–2015 | The Only Way Is Essex | 117 episodes |
| 2011 | Alan Carr: Chatty Man | 1 episode |
| 2011 | 50 Greatest Wedding Shockers | |
| 2011 | Celebrity Juice | 1 episode |
| 2011 | All Star Family Fortunes | 1 episode |
| 2012 | Daybreak | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | This Morning | 1 episode |
| 2014 | Big Brother's Bit on the Side | 1 episode |
| 2014 | The Only Way Is Essex: All Back to Essex | 1 episode |
| 2014 | Strictly Come Dancing | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Good Morning Britain | 1 episode |
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