It was with great sadness that Horspath CC heard recently of the passing earlier this year of vice-president and former chairman Pat Powell, aged 87.
Pat became an integral part of the club in the 1980s, 90s and beyond after developing his interest from first watching his son, Steve, start playing at the Recreation Ground in the mid 1970s.
He began his administrative roles at Horspath by being match secretary (coming home to let Steve know whether he had been picked on a Monday night).
That led to him becoming secretary and then chairman, a position he held twice, stepping in for the second time in 1996 at a difficult time for the club following the sudden passing of Morris Honey.
Pat's service to Horspath was recognised when he became a vice-president, a position he held until he passed away peacefully at the end of January.
Over the years, he developed great friendships and contacts with many players and supporters in the villages where Horspath played.
He was a tremendous ambassador for the club and village in general and there are still many supporters who recall his time and work very fondly.
He continued to visit the club regularly and it was only in the past couple of years when his health deteriorated with Parkinson’s disease that he spent less time there.
Pat spent his childhood and early adult life living in Sandhills.
He met his wife, Gwen, at a dance at Milham Ford School. They married in 1959 and had two children Stephen and Mandy, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
After a short period living in Cowley, Pat and Gwen moved to Horspath in 1961, making their home on College Way for 65 years.
Pat spent a great deal of his working life at the local car factory before his retirement. He then went on to work as a Lodge porter at Wadham College in Oxford between 1999 and 2003.
He was always keen on outdoor life. Given their proximity to Shotover he would often walk into the woods with their dog collecting bluebells, pea-sticks etc for the garden or sloe berries to make gin.
Until recently, when his health started to fail, Pat worked tirelessly in the garden, spending many hours growing a vast array of vegetables while Gwen looked after the lawn and flower beds.
Socially, Pat enjoyed his pint at the pub in the village or the Conservative Club in Headington.
In the 1980s he worked part time at The Queens Head which at that time was also the “headquarters” for the cricket club before it moved to the Chequers and ultimately had its own clubroom at the Recreation Ground.
He enjoyed playing crib, dominoes and aunt sally and was part of the various pub teams for many years. He was also a big horseracing fan, attending many meetings with Bath racecourse a particular favourite.
Pat will be laid to rest with Gwen in the village cemetery within sight of their home on College Way, Shotover and the cricket ground that they loved so much.