Concentrating on Pat McHugh

PAT McHUGH, the vivacious, 22-year-old Concentration hostess, has had a variety of jobs since she left school a little more than six years ago.

She has worked as a dentist’s receptionist, in a cocktail bar, as a policewoman, nurse, shorthand typist (with a bus company, an undertaker and an aircraft firm) and model.

“All good experience,” she says. “But right now I’m concentrating on being my own boss. I hope to be able to go into business at the end of this year. It all depends on how much money I’ve saved by then.”

What sort of business? Pat thought for a moment, then said, slowly: “Well, I haven’t quite made up my mind yet. I feel that I’m pretty good at selling things to people, and I’d very much like to own a gown shop.

“On the other hand, I may just invest my money in some property and leave it at that.”

Pat’s good looks and trim figure have won her a string of beauty titles, appearances in TV’s Holiday Town Parade — and cash prizes, too.

“Twenty pounds here, twenty pounds there … it all helps,” says Pat, who has just won a preliminary heat in another national beauty contest — for “Miss England”—and will appear at the finals in London later this month.

“When I first started on the modelling course I used to wonder if I should ever make it. I used to get up at 7am to go to my job in Chester from my home near Mold, in North Wales.

“Then I went to the modelling school in the evening. After doing all the strenuous exercises, I was almost asleep on my feet as 1 walked the last two miles home—the bus service finished hours before I got anywhere near Mold.

“My mother wasn’t so sure that I had made the right decision, but my father backed me up and now everything’s fine — I’ve no regrets.”

She added: “Of course, there are some days when I wonder whether it’s all worth it … everybody gets a fit of the blues occasionally … but then a nice job comes along and every thing in the garden is lovely.

“I manage to keep busy, and I enjoy life. It’s exciting. A model’s job isn’t a steady one by any means. There’s no wage packet every Friday. But if you like meeting people — and I most certainly do — it is worthwhile.”

Pat’s busy life does not leave her much time for hobbies. But when she is at home in her own three-room flat in Liverpool she likes to read or listen to records.

“I’ve got a very wide selection, but I enjoy the slow and easy numbers most. Music helps to release the tension after a long day.”

Occasionally, Pat goes ice skating. “I’m afraid I’m not good at it. They say it’s excellent for the figure – but I’m not so sure. I suppose it all depends on whether you can stay on your feet or not!”

There was a mischievous twinkle in Pat’s grey-green eyes as she rubbed a recently-bruised elbow.

Then Pat announced that she had just made one of the biggest changes in her life. “My hair,” she said. “I’ve changed the colour from auburn to strawberry blonde — and I have been worried to death.

“It’s a big step for a girl to take, you know. The night before I came to the studios for the show I couldn’t sleep. I kept wondering what people would say.

“A new hair-do is as good as a tonic to a girl, but a change of colour is a bit drastic.”

And do people like it?

“The verdict seems to be about 90 per cent ‘Yes’ and 10 per cent ‘No,’ so I’m quite relieved. Most of those who said ‘Yes’ were men, and I’m very glad about that, because they tell the truth when they are talking about women.

“I think women tend to be dishonest when they are asked to give an opinion about another woman, though I must admit that a hairdresser girl friend of mine said it was marvellous, and that made me very happy.”

What about men and marriage? Pat drew herself up to her full height of 67 inches, looked at me and said: “I’m not interested in men. I’m much too busy working.”

But there was a smile on her face as she said it.