PAT Stainsby, who has died suddenly, aged 66, was an outstanding York tennis player in the 1950s and 60s and later a prominent figure in the cub scout movement.

Born in York, Miss Stainsby was educated at The Avenue Primary School and Mill Mount Grammar School before starting work at Rowntree's (now Nestl) at the age of 16.

She was employed by the company until her retirement when she was 55, working as head of comptometers and latterly head of office printing.

She joined Burnholme Tennis Club at the age of ten and then became a member of Tang Hall TC, York RI TC and Rowntree's TC.

A powerful player with a lethal forehand, Miss Stainsby won several junior titles before becoming York Municipal girls' singles champion in 1952. She then appeared in a remarkable 11 women's singles finals, being champion in 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967 and runner-up in 1955, 1958, 1960 and 1968.

She won the women's doubles with Jean Nowell in 1964 and with Jean Cross in 1970. She was mixed doubles champion with Derek Robinson in 19587, 1959 and 1960 and with Derek Robson in 1963.

In May 1971 she became an assistant cub scout leader at Fulford and was then appointed Akela at Dunnington St Andrew's pack. She was awarded a medal of merit for service to the cub scout movement and then received a long service award in 1986, the silver acorn in 1992, and a bar to the long service award in 1996.

Miss Stainsby became a county commissioner to beaver scouts before retiring last year.

In recent years she organised short break holidays for friends and was chairperson of Nestl pensioners' travel club.

The funeral service for Miss Stainsby, who died following a heart attack on Christmas Day morning, will be at York Crematorium on Thursday, January 3 at noon.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, December 31, 2001