Pat flew frequently with John Best during the 1980s, and the two quickly became good friends, sharing a similar sense of humour and socialising regularly when John lived in Norfolk.

John recalls one particular flight from Norwich in the F27 when, during the climb-out, Pat remarked that he had found himself singing nursery rhymes on his own in the car on his way to work that morning. With Pat’s daughter and John’s two daughters all being toddlers at the time and frequent playmates, John replied that he had been doing exactly the same thing. The two of them subsequently burst into song together, belting out nursery rhymes as they flew over the North Sea.

Pat was a pleasure to fly with. Originally with Air Anglia before the merger, he later went on to join Air UK Leisure.

Pat was an absolutely smashing bloke and a great friend. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and former colleagues.