Patrick Erskine Ward (51-54) died in Norwich on January 8, 2012 as the OP Society has recently learned. He was aged 74 and had been suffering from leukaemia. He left a wife Sarah, who died in 2013, and two sons.

At the Nautical College Pat Ward captained the Fencing team in which he was, according to The Log, “a tower of strength” including doing well in the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire county championships in both foil and sabre in 1954. A member of the 1st X1 cricket team in the summer of 1954, his “value to the side cannot be over-stressed,” stated The Log. An opening bowler, “his accurate, nagging length was invaluable.” That season he took 38 wickets at an average of just 14.3 for each wicket.

Destined for the Merchant Navy, Ward left the NCP at the end of summer term 1954 and went to sea, but remained in the Royal Naval Reserve as cadets from Pangbourne could do at that time. Later, he switched to the Royal Navy and is listed in the 1959 Navy List as a Sub-Lieutenant.

Ward rose to become a Captain RN but nothing is known about his subsequent naval career. In retirement, he moved to Norfolk. Following a death notice in the Eastern Daily Press, a friend, Jim Goodall wrote: “I will miss Pat's stories of the Royal and Merchant Navy. He had a wry sense of humour and will be missed very much by all who knew him. A great guy. R.I.P. Pat. Bye mate.” Ward also played golf at Eaton GC, smoking a pipe – “a steady 15-handicapper” according to OP Richard Guillaume who accompanied him on several rounds.