No.128
outside your classroom
that they fell into silence,
as did your French class
for the rest of the hour.
But there is balance in the
triangulation. You were
recognised as a legendary
teacher of French,
a devoted (and thus
demanding) schoolmaster,
forever encouraging the
boys on the playing field.
One of your coaching
methods was unusual,
writing up first XI matches
in a journal and then
reading your report to the
team the evening before
the next match. ‘Very
motivating and effective,’
one said, ‘especially when you realised
Pesky had noticed the good things
you had done.’
Of course, this view of you by your
young charges is hard to reconcile
with the apparently mild-mannered
and gentle person we adults know
today at Win Coll. But young
Wykehamists soon ‘got’ you: a San
Franciscan Trantite referred to you
as a ‘real cool dude’, the highest
compliment, which had, I’m sure,
nothing to do with the vibrant hues
of your corduroy trousers, perhaps
the only challenge to the sartorial
adventure that is our Headmaster
(RDT). More seriously, you have
been a wonderful servant of Win
Coll. Wykehamist Society was your
stage, starting with your becoming
Secretary in 1988, and then for 16
years. As your old friend Colin
Badcock said of you in 2004, when
you were retiring from WykSoc,
‘Patrick’s really major achievement is
the arousing of alumni affection for
the Old Place by endlessly attending
to them and attending their dinners
and funerals.’ You always had a sure
touch with OWs and others of all
ages, from Al Gordon at 105 down to
New Men. You consolidated all these
The Trusty Servant
became the well-organised
club it is today. But you
could clearly revert to the
scary persuader of Horris
Hill days when you needed
to. Colours were to be
awarded to Win Coll and
the CCF in 2010, but the
Court of Heralds objected
as William of Wykeham’s
Coat of Arms was ‘not
properly heraldic’. You told
them that, as Win Coll was
of an older Foundation
than the Court of Heralds,
we would take precedent
from ourselves - and we
did! The evidence is in
Armoury.
achievements by finding a superb
successor in David Fellowes, who
built on your earlier work and started
the effective Winchester College
Society we know today, based on an
idea of Ralph’s. Your good work then
is, among other things, our funding
base today.
You became Aide to the Warden and
Headmaster in 2004, after handing
over WykSoc. But your title followed
the reality: as Tommy Cookson
said of his challenging Headship, ‘I
couldn’t have done without Patrick
in 2003-2005. He was the ideal advisor
and a shrewd pair of eyes around the
place: perceptive, amusing and tough
when required.’ It seems you have
always had the knack of influence.
Whether as Trustee, Secretary,
Director, Aide, Treasurer, Editor or
Bursar of innumerable bodies, others
have been Chairman, but, time and
time again, people say you were the
‘go-to’ person, and you were the
reason things ran smoothly. It is said
that you saved a President of the
MCC, under pressure from unhappy
members at its AGM, by puncturing
a tense atmosphere with wit and an
adjournment. Inevitably, you were
elected to committees and the MCC
7
You have loved cricket,
as a player, as a watcher and as
administrator. The OWCC I knew
well became noticeably better-run
when you became Treasurer in 1986,
a task you undertook for 18 years
and helped to keep that set of OWs
firmly attached to the school. You
haven’t stopped: your outstanding
and incomparable knowledge of
Wykehamists has finally been
committed to print in the Register
(probably the last of its kind). You
too must have seen the enormity of
what lay ahead when you undertook
this horrendous task, let alone in
your seventies. But it is done, a truly
interesting and admirable piece of
work, and of lasting value to Win
Coll.
You are one of that very small group
of characters (going back in our
lifetimes to Budge Firth) who have
devoted most of their lives to the
benefit of others and this place, which
is better for your being a part of it.
A Memorial Service for Patrick will be
held in Chapel on Saturday 21st March
at 3.30pm. All those wishing to attend are
asked please to email:
[email protected]