Pamela Cherrington Sutton QSM (née Dalley) who has been a long-serving Anglican and leader in community service in Nelson has died this 1 April 2022.

Amongst Pamela Sutton's many contributions was her supportive ministry foro her husband the late Peter Sutton. Pamela served in lay ministry alongside her husband in parish churches in Whangarei and Dunedin, at St Paul's Cathedral in the Octagon when he was Dean of Dunedin, and through his years serving as Bishop of Nelson from 1965-1990.

Born in 1926 at Kidderminster in Worcestershire, Pam trained as a physiotherapist in nearby Birmingham. After some work experience in England, she gained a position with the North Canterbury Hospital Board in Christchurch. Sailing on the SS Captain Hobson in 1952 to take up her new position, she met the Rev Peter Eves Sutton, who was returning from two years serving in parishes in England (St John Bethnal Green, London and St Etheldreda, Hatfield in the diocese of St Albans). 

Pam stayed for three years in Christchurch, and then sailed back to England. She returned at the end of 1955 to marry Peter Sutton on 25 January 1956 in St Cuthbert’s Berhampore, where he was vicar. During his time as bishop Pamela served alongside her husband supporting the church’s ministry in the Nelson and Marlborough regions and attended three Lambeth conferences.

Pam made a strong contribution to the Nelson community, including setting up its Women’s Refuge and in her work as a Friend of Court. Through this work and her high community profile, she was invited to join the Habilitation taskforce as proposed by Justice Roper in his 1989 report.

Pam’s community involvement also saw her make submissions on behalf of the National Council of Women, serve as a member of the Mass Media Standing Committee and Wellington Regional Advisory committee on Broadcasting. She was involved in leading community education.

For her contribution to the Nelson region and beyond Pamela Cherrington Sutton was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours in 1990.

NB: Robert Bruere prepared this obituary with help from notes taken in an interview with Pam undertaken by Marian Redwood for the centennial of Women’s Suffrage in 1993.