We are sad to advise that we have lost our dear friend and colleague, BARRY PATTISON,  who passed away on the 11th July after a battle with cancer, aged 87.  

Barry was born in Darlington, Co. Durham in January 1939 and at 5 years old started school at Dodmire Junior, staying until he was 11.  He then went on to Eastbourne Secondary Modern until he was 15. After leaving school, he went to work in a Garage as a Trainee Motor Mechanic, it was a small business which catered for all makes and models of vehicles.  Upon reaching the age of 17, he realised National Service was about to call.  He then decided to ‘enlist’ into the RAF before being ‘called up’..... jump before being pushed !!  

He had to go to Middlesbrough Recruiting Office for an interview being asked what trade he was interested in pursuing, told them about his brief experiences since leaving school, and that he would like to be an Engine Mechanic.  He signed up for 5 years and was sent to RAF Cardington (near Bedford) to be kitted out, have a medical and swear his allegiance to the Queen.....that was it, he was now a member of the Royal Air Force.  

First posting was to RAF West Kirby for eight weeks of ‘square bashing’ and then onto RAF Weeton (near Blackpool) for training as an Engine Mechanic.  He thought he would be learning about car engines, but to his surprise ended up being taught on Roll Royce Derwent engines. Following that period of training he was posted to RAF Topcliffe (Yorkshire) and found himself working on Vampires.  In January 1959 it was a posting to RAF Gelsenkirchen in, what was then West Germany, working on Station Fighters for 2 years and then in the Engine Bay for the rest of my tour of duty. Following his return from Gelsenkirchen, he re-enlisted for a further 10 years and was posted to RAF Leconfield (Yorkshire).  It was a Fighter Command station but there was also a Coastal Command unit (228 Squadron Air Sea Rescue), to which he was posted. Although enjoying time on the Squadron, he found that after 8 years as a ‘grease monkey’, a new challenge was needed.  When the opportunity arose, he moved onto motor transport as a driver of HGVs, as he thought this would be equally as beneficial come the day of his demob back into civilian life.  After passing out of driving school, he was posted to RAF Changi (Singapore) for a brief period, and then to RAF Wyton from where he was demobbed in 1971.  

He joined St Ives RBL in 1974 moving onto the Branch Committee in 1995. In that time, he had been Branch Chairman, Branch Membership Secretary, Standard Bearer, as well as also serving on the Hunts RBL County Committee. Just before COVID hit in 2020, he handed over his Standard Bearer duties due to ongoing health/mobility concerns. 

Barry was a hard-working volunteer for the Royal British Legion, and especially for the annual Poppy Appeal, spending many hours collecting in all weathers, and could usually be found outside Nationwide in St Ives in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday...... he will be missed by us all and our thoughts are with his family !!