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THOMAS PATRICK VEASEY - 7th February 1927 - 6th January 2020

THOMAS PATRICK VEASEY - 7th February 1927 - 6th January 2020 

Always known and will be remembered as Pat Veasey of Gosmore Cross. As I write this “Cross” does not seem to be the word that accurately describes a very patient man who never seemed to become annoyed, lose his temper nor was ever heard to swear. He was indeed a Gentleman. 

Pat was a family man and was never happier than when he was with his family, at home and in his garden. A garden for Pat was one that could supply an abundant amount of fruit and vegetables for the family. 

Born in Buntingford, on 7.2.27 (very proud of that) a Hertfordshire man through and through, Pat‟s early education was with a family governess before Prep school followed by Haileybury where he excelled in Maths and Chemistry. Lawn tennis parties, billiards, table tennis and later croquet were sports that Pat enjoyed at home. He did explain that at rugby football he made an art of moving away from the ball while appearing to run towards it! Many weekends Pat would cycle from Haileybury to his home in Buntingford 

a distance of about 14 miles, where the family played all kinds of board and card games - much more enjoyable than school. 

From school in 1945 Pat was called up for National Service and joined the Royal Signals. The army sent him to Oxford before posting him to Palestine where his natural ability to make and mend was honed in a difficult environment. During this time he was Mentioned in Despatches. 

Joining Wayne Kerr in Surrey, he quickly made his name as a very bright electronics engineer. English Electric, subsequently British Aerospace, called and he became a key specialist involved with missiles and especially with guidance systems, suddenly finding himself on 24 hour call out during the Falklands War. While working at the forefront of the ever expanding and developing electronics industry the company patented some of Pat‟s designs. Pat was given early retirement in 1989. 

While all this was going on Pat married Jennifer in 1955. The family soon increased with the arrivals of Susan, John, Charles and Jane. Family holidays in the Isle of Wight and cruising on the canals were particularly cherished with memories of packing the garden spade ready to build “proper sandcastles” on the beach in the Isle of Wight. When cruising, the family were organised from 6am. and ready to open locks in advance so that few other canal boats could pass them or travel further in the allotted 7 days. He had a love of steam trains, building model railways (“0” and “00” gauge) and taking amateur cine films. 

Pat was very much a make and mend character and if he did not initially have the knowledge he would research the subject, understand it and then put into practice what he had read. Helping with the hog roast for the 900th anniversary, supplying a Christmas tree each year and joining the panels together for the pew cushions were just a few of the things he did to support the church. Pat was elected to the Parish Council in April 1990 and served as an effective and committed Chairman from May 2000 until he retired in May 2007 at the age of 80. 

Pat, a man of many interests and accomplishments, it has been a pleasure to know you. You leave us with very happy memories - not forgetting the rhubarb passed over the hedge - thank you. 

Ken Holden 

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