NEW
Tom Fitzpatrick
BSAC’ s smiling star
BSAC HAS PAID TRIBUTE TO FORMER BSAC Council member Tom Fitzpatrick, who passed away in March aged 77 following a long illness.
A long-time BSAC volunteer and member of Oxford BSAC, Tom was also a well-known face on the BSAC events circuit. For many years, Tom coordinated the try dive pools at the London and Birmingham Dive Shows alongside his wife Heather, and also ran the try dive pool at the annual Scuba Fest weekend in Cornwall.
A former firefighter, Tom joined BSAC in 1975, going on to become a key part of the Southern Regional Coaching Team during the 1990s and early 2000s. He moved with his wife to the Isle of Wight in 2010.
Longstanding friend, former BSAC National Diving Officer Lizzie Bird, said she would always remember Tom‘ with a big smile’.
“ There are so many unsung volunteer instructors in BSAC who just‘ do’ because of their love of diving and introducing as well as developing eager divers to progress their skills. One such was Tom Fitzpatrick.
“ Divers may remember Tom’ s name as someone who spurred them on to learn to dive. But it was also his kindness, sense of humour, loyalty to BSAC and his fellow instructors that many of us who knew him will never forget.”
BSAC CEO Mary Tetley also paid tribute to Tom and his contribution to‘ the Club’.
“ I worked for many years with Tom; he was a massively loyal and supportive volunteer and helped BSAC in so many ways. I remember with great fondness our BSAC exhibitions when Tom was in charge of the Try Dive Pool team with Heather his wife as his deputy! The pools were run with energy, professionalism and at the end of each day Tom always signed up new members. He will be greatly missed by us all.”
BOOKS FOR UNDERWATER EXPLORERS
DIVED UP
Adventure Exploration History Rescue Biography Wrecks Marine Life UW Photography
www. DivedUp. com