RIP Bernard Patrick

It is with sadness that we bring news that Bernard Patrick passed away on Sunday 15 September, 2024 after a short illness. He will be remembered by many East Coast Gaffers as an active Committee member, editing Eastcoaster for many years and sailing his beloved ‘Molly Cobbler’.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Monday 14 October 12.30pm
Chelmsford Crematorium, South Chapel, Writtle Road, CM1 3WQ.
We would be more than happy for any of Dad’s Old Gaffer friends to attend.
Family flowers only, there will be a collection box for any donations for the RNLI at the Chapel.
Following the service the family invite anyone who wishes, to join us at the County Hotel, Rainsford Road, Chelmsford. CM1 2PZ for some refreshments. There is complimentary parking at the Hotel but please ensure the vehicle number is registered at reception on arrival.

Memories of Bernard

I recall Bernard as a gentle, generous, humorous, sociable and interesting man with a stocky short-stature (fit for small yachts) and even Yorkshire brogue. Of dapper appearance he was often surprising. We seemed always to be in sympathy with a shared interest in all aspects of boats of course, but also other things – technology (he was a chemical engineer), motorbikes and music. Latterly I discovered he was also a Christian which I hadn’t realised earlier.

Bernard was a most delightful person to have worked with and for, the ideal boat-builder’s client! I first knew Bernard in the summer of 1997 when he came to me to build his boat ‘Molly Cobbler’. He’d just retired and had a clear plan of exactly what he was going to do. He must have evolved this in his mind over quite a period of time. Bernard had chosen a design for a ‘Tosher’ by Selway Fisher Design. He got Paul Fisher to modify the bow to his satisfaction, supplying me with adapted drawings to make the changes to the rake of the stem. He was also going to add a proper cabin. He’d built boats before as an amateur and was keen to work with me building his new boat. I was to build the hull with him fitting it out. 

At the time we had an undeveloped space outside the workshop which was previously Ian Brown’s boatyard (formerly Rowhedge Ironworks) and the plan was for him to finish ‘Molly Cobbler’ outside with me advising, helping as necessary so long as the space remained free. At first I was nervous, feeling my space somewhat invaded and I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but things went perfectly. Bernard was only nervous about getting his boat out of my shed through a door that was too small. I persuaded him that it would be achieved by removing some wall over the doorway which needed re-building anyway. 

We built a tent outside the shed under which he almost completed the work over the 18 months after she left the shed, before the builders moved in at the turn of the century. ‘Molly Cobbler’ was taken to Downs Road Boatyard in Maldon for the finishing touches. Over this time Bernard  became a good friend. He was always interested in what I was doing and a helpful supportive person to have around, never seeming to be in the way. 

Later on he came to some boat launches and our paths would cross at baroque music concerts and other events. In the summer of 1999 I had just acquired ‘Hanser’ from Arthur Holt and decided we should sail down to Millbrook near Plymouth where we had a friend who could accommodate my wife Clare and 8 month old daughter. They went by car and we saw the Sun’s total eclipse of that year. Bernard offered to come as crew and we had a memorable sail down together, this being my first real experience with the boat, as well as his. It was great to have him as an unflappable and competent crew. Our 3rd hand had to get off in Brighton due to lack of free time. Bernard was very surprised when I loaded fresh fruit, vegetables, bacon and fresh milk onto the boat for cooking. Coming from the previous generation, all his food when sailing had come out of tins. I remember his pleasure when we set off at dawn into a good breeze past St Katherine’s Point after a wet and windy day finding our way through the Looe Channel and anchoring off Shanklin promenade in the rain and dark. The sky was blue, the sun rose strong and we were enjoying the sail so much we sailed on out of sight of land into the shipping lane before tacking back in. Approaching Plymouth in the tired haze of the following dawn I think it was Bernard who avoided us sailing into the Plymouth Harbour breakwater. I feel so grateful to have known him. 

Fabian Bush

I owe Bernard Patrick a lot for creating ‘Molly Cobbler’, getting Fabian Bush to build the hull to Paul Fisher’s design and then fitting her out himself. A process which I think never quite ended; over the 13 years that she was his pride and joy, he seems to have continually worked on ways to improve her. He obviously put a lot of care into her details, no boat can match her, as far as I am concerned! He reluctantly sold her to me in 2013, so she became my pride and joy for the next ten years and now has a new loving owner on the south coast. 

Bernard generously came out with me several times at the start of my ownership, to help me settle in as her skipper and I remained in touch, sending him emails about her exploits and visiting him when I came to Essex. He never got tired of hearing about her; even the last time, this summer, when he was finding it hard to talk, he was smiling at my tales of how ‘Molly’ could find a breeze to fill her sails even when the other boats on the Menai Strait were becalmed!

Mary Gibbs