Patrick Webb

Patrick Webb (Segar’s, 1957-1962) 

Died on September 6th 2021. 

The following obituary was kindly provided by Rodney Haig, a friend of Patrick’s during his time at Teddies and beyond. 

Patrick went to Trinity Hall Cambridge, and thereafter qualified as an accountant.

At Teddies he was secretary of the Photographic society and the golf club. Two interests that he enjoyed for his whole life.

My memories of Patrick at Teddies were playing in the third XI hockey and nearly being injured by him when he was practicing his golf on the lower fields. A long iron shot landed on the roof of a shelter I was resting in after a run. A few feet lower and it would have struck me on the head.

At Cambridge he played for the university side but sadly was not selected for the Blues side. He was first reserve which meant he played in the Dinner match which he won handsomely. Newspaper reports at the time commented that he was the most accomplished golfer not to be awarded a blue.

He was a member of Walton Heath Golf Club, that most prestigious Surrey club which has held many important tournaments including the Ryder Cup and more recently the Professional Qualifier for the USA Open.

Patrick was elected Captain in 1992. This was a significant date in the Clubs history as it was the first year it was run under its new constitution. As a result Patrick found himself not only on the main board but chairman of the General Committee and an ex officio member of the Greens Committee.

This tells you of the high esteem he was held at the club and the man to steer them in the first year of its new organisation.

He was also a member of the Lloyds golf club and became their president in 2005. He played regularly in the Presidents Putter, the Annual Oxford and Cambridge Golf society winter meeting held in January at Rye golf club. I believe that his best run in the competition resulted in him reaching the semi final.  He was also a member of the R & A.

Patrick joined the Martyrs Golf Club on leaving Teddies. His handicap at that time was about 2. Not surprisingly he was soon asked to represent the Martyrs in the Annual Grafton Morrish Old Boys competition and is recorded to have first played for the team seeking qualification for the main tournament in 1965. Thereafter he was the first name on the tam sheet for the next 40 years plus.

I was fortunate to partner him in many qualifying tournaments and occasionally when we made it in the main tournament itself. If I say so myself we had a pretty good record mainly due to Patrick’s steadiness off the Tee and his exceptional short game. The highlight occurred when we reached the semi final in 1977 eventually losing to Haileybury 2 matches to one. They won the final that year easily if I recall.

He became the Martyrs Golf secretary in1979 taking over from Richard Skilbeck and ran the Club for four years until he handed over the reins to me. During his time he arranged for the Autumn meeting to be played annually at Walton Heath. The evening before the meeting he and his wife Jo generously entertained and provided accommodation to those of us who travelled from afar to play.

I am glad to say that the tradition of these evenings in the Webb household long exceeded his occupation of the secretary-ship and only ceased when Jo became partially incapacitated by a stroke.

Patrick and I became firm friends over the years and he and Jo, and my wife Annie and I went on a number of Golfing holidays. One memorable occasion occurred when we were in Spain one year. I had expressed a wish to one day play Valderama. Patrick happened to know a member, perhaps not surprisingly due to his many golfing contacts, and immediately made a phone call to London.  He returned a few minutes later to confirm that we were all booked in for the following day. On arrival we were treated like royalty, being able to use the Members changing rooms and members dining room (places usually out of bound to the casual visitor). Needless to say we had a marvellous day even though my abiding memory of the golf was trying to avoid the cork trees which seemed to be in the way whether you hit the fairway or not.

I will always remember Patrick as a splendid golfing partner, (we never fell out) and a generous host and friend to me and my wife and family. He will be sorely missed by us all.

 

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