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We honour Roger Patrick 1937-2017, a stalwart of Kettering Water Polo Club - November 29, 2017
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Roger Patrick on Monday morning, 27th November 2017.
Given that his father was one of the founding members of Kettering Swimming Club, it was natural for Roger Patrick to be swimming from a young age, and this enthusiasm for all things aquatic led him to water polo, and an active playing career of more than 65 years.
The swimming club and the water polo club were a significant part of Roger’s life; it was where he met his wife, Diane and lifelong friend Don Mobbs (also a player). With his strong family connections with the club, Roger was an integral part of Kettering’s recent 100 year celebrations; faithfully recreating an early photo of swimmers, including his father, having fun at Wicksteed park, below.
Whilst KASC and water polo played a significant role in Roger’s life, Roger was also a large part of the swimming club and the sport of water polo. As well as being an accomplished player, playing at national level and for many years in the Midlands league, he also contributed significantly to the sport and was not shy in taking on responsibility to support the game.
Over the years Roger set up, and was a driving force behind, the East Midlands water polo League which ran for thirty five years under his stewardship. He served as Secretary, Chairman and Treasurer for Kettering Water Polo, culminating in the richly deserved award of President for Life, and spent hundreds of hours on “the table” supported by his wife, Diane, and referring matches (with an unwavering sense for fair play and an enjoyable game).
Roger always looking to encourage juniors into the sport and was instrumental in introducing hundreds of youngsters to the sport – coaching, encouraging, arranging friendlies and setting up taster sessions.
In recognition of all of his services to the sport he was invited for tea at Buckingham palace a few years ago.
Roger also had a great sense of the water polo community and a love for the county of Devon and surfing. Somehow he managed to combine all these passions, and was instrumental in arranging a friendly fixture between Kettering WPC and Barnstaple WPC. This friendly has endured for forty five years, with Roger playing in every single match. Over the years a “community” has grown around the match, as family and friends spend the week of the match as a holiday in Devon; now numbering more than two hundred people and four generations! Roger still managed to get out surfing this year, even at 80 years of age.
Roger is survived by his wife Diane, son Neil, five grandchildren and two great grand children. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, but he leaves an indelible mark on them and on his chosen sport water polo, thank you Roger.
3 responses to “We honour Roger Patrick 1937-2017, a stalwart of Kettering Water Polo Club”
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We honour Roger Patrick 1937-2017, a stalwart of Kettering Water Polo Club -
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Roger Patrick on Monday morning, 27th November 2017.
Given that his father was one of the founding members of Kettering Swimming Club, it was natural for Roger Patrick to be swimming from a young age, and this enthusiasm for all things aquatic led him to water polo, and an active playing career of more than 65 years.
The swimming club and the water polo club were a significant part of Roger’s life; it was where he met his wife, Diane and lifelong friend Don Mobbs (also a player). With his strong family connections with the club, Roger was an integral part of Kettering’s recent 100 year celebrations; faithfully recreating an early photo of swimmers, including his father, having fun at Wicksteed park, below.
Whilst KASC and water polo played a significant role in Roger’s life, Roger was also a large part of the swimming club and the sport of water polo. As well as being an accomplished player, playing at national level and for many years in the Midlands league, he also contributed significantly to the sport and was not shy in taking on responsibility to support the game.
Over the years Roger set up, and was a driving force behind, the East Midlands water polo League which ran for thirty five years under his stewardship. He served as Secretary, Chairman and Treasurer for Kettering Water Polo, culminating in the richly deserved award of President for Life, and spent hundreds of hours on “the table” supported by his wife, Diane, and referring matches (with an unwavering sense for fair play and an enjoyable game).
Roger always looking to encourage juniors into the sport and was instrumental in introducing hundreds of youngsters to the sport – coaching, encouraging, arranging friendlies and setting up taster sessions.
In recognition of all of his services to the sport he was invited for tea at Buckingham palace a few years ago.
Roger also had a great sense of the water polo community and a love for the county of Devon and surfing. Somehow he managed to combine all these passions, and was instrumental in arranging a friendly fixture between Kettering WPC and Barnstaple WPC. This friendly has endured for forty five years, with Roger playing in every single match. Over the years a “community” has grown around the match, as family and friends spend the week of the match as a holiday in Devon; now numbering more than two hundred people and four generations! Roger still managed to get out surfing this year, even at 80 years of age.
Roger is survived by his wife Diane, son Neil, five grandchildren and two great grand children. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, but he leaves an indelible mark on them and on his chosen sport water polo, thank you Roger.
3 responses to “We honour Roger Patrick 1937-2017, a stalwart of Kettering Water Polo Club”
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Nick West Norwich Water Polo says:
Lovely man, always very welcoming. We have enjoyed many matches at Kettering and of course in the club house afterwards.
RIP Roger, out thoughts are with his family. -
Jerry Overhill says:
Very sad to hear this news. Roger was always so welcoming to our club – Cambridge Granta and then City of Cambridge WPC. I knew him from 1979 when I started playing and he was a great man and player and promoter of our wonderful sport. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him well at Cambridge.
I only just found out- has the funeral taken place yet ?-
cheerychris says:
Thank you for your comments Jerry. The funeral took place on Friday 15th December but we did not find out the details until after the event. There is a picture of the order of service here > https://www.facebook.com/EnglandWaterPolo/photos/p.2025488841073352/2025488841073352/?type=3&theater
Best wishes
Chris
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Lovely man, always very welcoming. We have enjoyed many matches at Kettering and of course in the club house afterwards.
RIP Roger, out thoughts are with his family.
Very sad to hear this news. Roger was always so welcoming to our club – Cambridge Granta and then City of Cambridge WPC. I knew him from 1979 when I started playing and he was a great man and player and promoter of our wonderful sport. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him well at Cambridge.
I only just found out- has the funeral taken place yet ?
Thank you for your comments Jerry. The funeral took place on Friday 15th December but we did not find out the details until after the event. There is a picture of the order of service here > https://www.facebook.com/EnglandWaterPolo/photos/p.2025488841073352/2025488841073352/?type=3&theater
Best wishes
Chris