It is with regret that I have to announce that the eldest member of the Branch, PATRICK JAMES BURKE ‘PADDY’, Passed away on Saturday 22nd December 2012, in fact, on his 93rd Birthday. He had been in poor health for most of 2012, and had been in hospital several times, but he passed away peacefully at his home. He was suffering from lung cancer.

He joined the Army as a boy soldier and trained to be a bugler. He later joined the R.A.M.C. and saw acttive service in the Western Desert in 1942, and later in Normandy in 1944. After leaving the forces he took up a career in Nursing, which he did for all his working life. He was noted as being the First male nurse, and later the First Male Sister at the North Staffs Royal Infirmary, and on retirement
held the position of Senior Nursing Officer.

On 1st April 1954, together with our colleague, Jack Beckett, he was a founder member of 159 Field Ambulance, a T.A. Unit in Burslem, a forerunner to 224 Field Ambulance, now 202 Field Hospital. He was also one of the first members of the North Midlands Branch, serving as Minute secretary, and as Vice-Chairman, a post which he only gave up in August 2012. He was a devout Roman Catholic and was a man who you felt privileged to have as a friend. He will be sadly missed by many.

His Funeral was held on Monday, 7th January 2013. Full Requiem Mass was said at St. Theresa’s R.C. Church, Trent Vale, his home church, followed by Burial at Carmountside Lawn Cemetery. 2 Standard Bearers were on Parade, and 17 members of the Branch formed a Guard of Honour. Our thoughts go out to his children, Carol, Pam and John, to his companion Dilys, and the rest of the family,

REST IN PEACE PAT!