Archive for January, 2012

Dear all,

It is with sadness and deep regret that I inform you of the passing of IOBA Honorary Member Pat Purser.

I could write pages of eulogy regarding Pat, and I am sure many of you will wish to publish your own thoughts and stories, which we would welcome, of this wonderful man.

I would like to summarise my sentiments by reminding you of the note I read out when we voted Pat into the Association as an Honorary Member back in 2008.

“It would be remiss of me not to say a little more about Pat Purser. It would be an understatement to say that the IOBA would not be what it is today without the tremendous enthusiasm, and dedication shown by him in the dark days of the schools liquidation. For those of you who have had the opportunity to read Pat’s memoirs from that time, you cannot fail to be amazed at what was happening behind the scenes, such incompetence and mismanagement on the part of the schools governing body clearly resulted in its early demise. I know that Pat would be the first to admit that the writing was probably on the wall for some time, but with a responsible Board, the end of the Indefatigable as our school, could and should have been far less painful. Pat, battling against such adversity, was instrumental in setting up what we have today, his motivation and tenacity has lived on in our membership”.

Although Pat had been absent from our reunions for a while, it was a great pleasure for all of us to see him return in 2008, and I am just so grateful that we were able to hear wonderful stories of his days at the Indefatigable and his unstinting efforts to save the School and the formation of our Association.

The funeral will be held at 13.30 on Wednesday 1st February at Bangor Crematorium.

Yours with great sadness.

Bill O’Leary

Chairman

IOBA

Pat Purser and Barry Priddis