William Ernest (Bill/Pat) Sullivan Born 30th June 1923, Bermondsey. Died 30th December 2013 Yaxley House care home, Suffolk William was known as Bill in his younger years then acquired the nickname of Pat. His father came from Cork to work in the mines in the North. Just after World War II, Pat’s father deserted the family, nothing more known. Pat’s mum Alice married a Mr Simmans who became stepfather to Pat and his younger brother Chris. Mr Simmans died c.1970, Pat’s mum died aged 83 in 1977. The Simmans were quite poor and lived in Barking, within sight and smell of the Epicure pickle factory. During World War II, Pat joined the Navy, and became a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm, his brother Chris joined the Navy later, and they both served together out East. During the war Pat married Rose Ettershank, and they had daughter Lynda in 1946. Pat’s brother Chris went on to work for GCHQ as a code breaker, and later took a degree in Russian. Few people of Pat’s generation and class went to university and Pat was very proud of his younger brother. Chris later married Rose’s younger sister Babs. Their 3 children, Jacqui, Sean and Mark are ‘shared niece and nephews’. After the War Pat worked at Cable & Wireless, then the Post Office (GPO) where he progressed to Higher Executive Officer with responsibility for safety, welfare, social activities and he was active the union, jobs he did well and which suited his gregarious nature. During this time he edited and wrote articles and record reviews for a Post Office magazine. He continued writing into his eighties, retaining handwriting that many would envy. Through his friend Clive, who worked for Capitol Radio, Pat met and became friends with many stars of the time: Frankie Vaughan; Guy Mitchell, Helen Shapiro, Roy Orbison, The Three Degrees, and Keith Skues who is still broadcasts today. There were girlfriends (even when married to Rose!) but he finally settled with Joyce, also a Higher Executive Officer in the Post Office. They lived at first in the council house in Carshalton, Surrey, where he and Rose had started their married life and eventually he bought it. Pat was a sport fanatic! He played cricket and football into his fifties. He was a founder member with Joyce of The Evergreens badminton club in Shepperton and still played 2 or 3 times a week right into his early eighties. Joyce and Pat enjoyed boating and joined the Walton-on-Thames cruising club, Pat became Commodore. When a house on the river came up for sale in Shepperton, they bought it and moored their boat at the end of the garden! And they spent many happy hours sitting by the river and waving to their friends out in their boats. Pat and Joyce also ran a professional disco called Pot-Pourri, for social events. They both became volunteer DJs for hospital radio at the Royal Marsden and St Peter’s, Chertsey. He was always into the latest technology. In the 1950s he was one of the first to own a car, a tape-recorder, TV, camera, and later a computer and iPad. He was a keen and good photographer from before World War II. To the end he played the piano and the organ, mostly songs from memory. He never took much interest in dogs or cats but when a stray black cat refused to be chased away, Pat adopted him and called him Sooty, and became a cat lover. Pat had cats until about 4 years ago when Misty, his last cat, died aged about 16yrs. Pat was then joined by a neighbour’s cat Blossom, somewhat against their wishes and he enjoyed Blossom’s company until he left for The Nunnery. He often asked who was looking after her. Pat and Joyce shared wonderful holidays with their many friends and with family in America, Qatar, Europe, and especially in Albufeira, Portugal where they bought a time-share. In 1993 Joyce contracted cancer, had some respite, but then got worse and died in July 1999. Her ashes were scattered on the Thames near their home. Her sister Val and family continued to be very supportive, treating Pat as a valued member of the family. After Joyce died, for a few years Pat did well on his own, though never too hot with domestic stuff, even ‘ping-cuisine’ was beyond him! The local restaurants around Shepperton must miss his custom considerably as he frequently took friends out for meals. He even went to the time-share a few times, but one time he was taken ill and hospitalized for a few days. He got home, but a neighbour found him collapsed. He was taken to St Peter’s and had a pace-maker fitted before the week was out! His memory started to go, so much so that carers were employed to give his regular heart medication and for shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. Although he ‘sort of ’ accepted this, leaving an air rifle, a truncheon or a dagger in his bed when changing the linen was due was clearly a hint! Over 3–4 years he became worse (as did some of the caring!) and he started walking the streets in a confused state. He needed 24hr care, and seeing to his needs from 160 miles away was impractical, so it was fortunate that in December 2011 it was possible for him to move to The Nunnery, where his ex-wife Rose was happy and well-loved for 8 years. Jane, the owner, already knew him a little from visits to her with Lynda. Jane describes how he would tell about his time as welfare officer and health and safety representative. He loved being helpful, carrying out quality assurance questionnaires, asking the residents for feedback about the home and recording their responses. Sometimes he answered the telephone and took messages – Jane was sure that there were some puzzled people at the other end of the line! He loved music, played the piano and was always organising and ‘advising’ anyone who came to entertain. He definitely liked the ladies, and was well liked by the staff even though he liked to tease them. He often spoke very fondly of his brother Chris, and about their father being a missionary (and a rogue!) There were difficult times when his frustration at having dementia erupted, when Jane and the staff did their utmost for him. But they were mostly good times with some very funny occasions. A resident’s daughter told how Pat was instrumental in helping her decide to move her mother to The Nunnery. They were looking round and admiring the view from the lounge, Pat said ‘Can you see the barbed wire to keep us in? There are land mines too!’ They thought that Pat was quite a character, and seeing how comfortable he was, decided it would be an ideal place for their mother. The staff could usually find him (or at least where he had been) by following the trail of toffee wrappers around the house! When the Nunnery closed Jane was able to find him, and Rose, a place at Yaxley House Care Home where he was well cared for, liked and respected. Pat became quite frail over the last few months: Lynda had been told by the consultant at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital that ‘he could go at any minute’. He managed another 18 months, then his heart failed. A cheerful man, very little got him down. He had a very wry sense of humour, and even those closest to him could never be sure when he was being serious or pulling their leg! We will always think of him as someone who had enjoyed life and continued to do so, as much as his health would allow, right to the end.