As I hand over primary webmaster duties to Gus Merelie I find myself writing what is personally my saddest and most difficult post in the 10 years I have done the task.
My friend Pat Oakes, Colin's brother-in-law, has left us at the age of 93. Indestructible, inspirational, legendary Pat who on his 90th birthday scored 42 points off a 32 handicap. Pat who would push his cart up the 16th when the battery failed and run after it when it went walkabout. Good natured Pat who you never saw angry, unsociable or miserable on the course or in the bar. Pat who was dismantling his boiler, fixing his car, keeping an immaculate garden and engineering gadgets in his shed into his 90s. Pat who aged 13 on VE day was making an effigy of Hitler to burn at the end of his road.
After a difficult year Pat suffered a stroke at home on Monday 16th September and was taken into L&D. In the evening of Tuesday 17th he succumbed to another unrecoverable brain bleed whilst sleeping and passed away quickly with his family by his side. Funeral arrangements are not yet available.
Goodbye Pat it was a privilege to have known you.