Former British Ice Hockey Association secretary Pat Marsh has passed away at the age of 83.

After going to her first game of ice hockey in 1950, she became secretary to Bunny Ahearne at the British Ice Hockey Association (BIHA) three years later.

This was during a period when Bunny was also vice-president and president of the IIHF.

By 1972 she expanded her role and became secretary for the British Ice Hockey Association and stayed in that role until retiring in 1987.

She represented Britain at the IIHF at Congress and travelled abroad with various GB junior teams, including in 1986 when the GB U19s won a gold medal in Barcelona.

Even after her retirement, Pat was a special consultant with the BIHA right up until 1999.

Pat was awarded the Paul Loicq award by the IIHF for her services to the sport.

Freddie Meredith said: “Pat devoted her life to the sport. She worked tirelessly and without reward.

“Without her it would not have been possible for the sport to have grown as it did in the 1980s and 1990s.

“Respected throughout the ice hockey world, she was truly ‘the first lady of British Ice Hockey’. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.”

Ice Hockey UK general secretary, Andy French, said: “Pat was an amazing lady and loved and respected by all her knew her.

“She helped transform British ice hockey and she will always be remembered fondly.”

Pat’s funeral will take place on Friday 12th May in Kent.