Edward John Patrick (OW 1944)

(2 July 1928 – 29 May 2019)

MCS was informed by his son Mike (OW 1975) that Edward John Patrick, known as John died on Wednesday 29 May 2019.

Born in 1928 John grew up on the then new Gipsy Lane Estate, attending East Oxford Primary School. He won a local authority scholarship from there to MCS. A talented pupil, with a prodigious head for figures he started in form 3, completed forms 4a and 4b in one year, arriving in the 5th form at 13. He completed the Higher School Certificate aged 16. On leaving MCS, in August 1944, he started work as a trainee accountant in Oxford City Treasurer’s Department.
At 18, work was interrupted by National Service in the RAF. Finishing in February 1949 as Corporal Patrick he later regarded it as a largely unproductive time and believed it was where he had contracted tuberculosis. Returning to Oxford he struggled with TB for several years, eventually making a full recovery but only after major surgery. In 1955 he married, Ann, his first wife, in Woodstock. In 1957 he achieved first place in the country in his final accountancy exams with the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants.

Shortly afterwards he and Ann moved to Coventry. The City was being re-built following the wartime destruction and it was an exciting period to be working in public finance. Coventry was something of a hothouse for up-and-coming finance professionals and there he made many life-long friends, all of whom went on to senior roles in the public sector.
In 1963, by now with a young family of three children, he moved to Hastings Borough Council as Deputy Treasurer. This was a somewhat sleepier posting than Coventry. As well as his work he involved himself in his accountancy institute, writing study books, and for many years serving as an examiner.

In 1968 life went full circle when he moved back to Oxford, as City Treasurer. A major challenge in the 1970s was the re-organisation of local government in 1974. It was a stressful time, with council officers having to re-apply for their jobs. John was appointed to the dual role of City Treasurer and Chief Executive of Oxford City Council which he held until his retirement in 1988.

He was active in the Oxford Rotary Club including serving as President. He continued to work with his professional body, now the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). He was on its council for many years including as President, for 1987-88. He also served for a period as Secretary to the Old Waynfletes.

His later years at work were difficult personally. In 1985 his wife Ann died of cancer, a week after their 30th anniversary. Tragically his second wife, Janet, died within a year of their marriage in a road traffic accident. Through friends, John then met Pam, with whom he celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2018. Pam nursed John at home throughout the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s until his death on the 29th of May 2019. John is succeeded by Pam, his three children, and four grandchildren.