Aviator and hotelier;
Born August 10, 1931;
Died March 1, 2008.

"CAPTAIN Pat" learned to fly in his native New Zealand and later answered a recruiting call from British European Airways.

He was based in Germany and then moved to London and during this time he was a very active representative for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).

In 1964, at the age of 32 and much earlier than most, he was appointed as a captain based in Glasgow, where he flew the DH Heron of the Island and Air Ambulance Service and also the Vickers Viscount on longer routes.

During his time in Glasgow he made a huge impression on a wide number of people through his flying skills and his ownership of a unique Ayrshire country house hotel which he christened Kiwi Lodge.

In New Zealand, he had become expert at low-flying survey work and this skill became invaluable on the air ambulance where it is sometimes necessary to fly patients with abdominal or chest problems at low altitude.

From the famous Captain David Barclay, he learned of the low-level routes that had been used in the days before special navigational aids were available. Pat frequently practised on these routes, and passengers from Campbeltown would sometimes be given the thrill of a low flight following a giant tanker up the Clyde, passing close enough to enjoy the consternation of the officer on the bridge as he glanced to the side and saw Pat.

He was distraught when British Airways decided against actively tendering for a further contract of the air ambulance service as he felt it was the one aspect of their work which brought them public credit.

He established Kiwi Lodge as a then-unusual and splendid country house hotel. For ideas on its design and amenities, he had surveyed flying and cabin staff of BEA. He took catering to a high standard that was rare at the time in the west of Scotland.

On entering, there would be a lamb on a spit over the log fire in the hall and at the table would be North Uist lobster and Islay scallops, freshly flown in. Afterwards, you could take part in musical evenings in his novel Bier Kellar where he was usually to the fore with his fiddle.

Initially, the licensing board, composed of the burghers of Ayrshire, refused him permission to sell alcohol, so he took the Kiwi Lodge visitors book along on London flights, recording masses of international signatures, all with the comments regretting the absence of a bar.

At the next meeting of the board, he presented this book and was granted permission. Sometimes, returning from London, he would announce that Ailsa Craig was on the left and Kiwi Lodge with its excellent food, was on the right.

Pat has left wonderful memories, his widow Ula, five children, and nine grandchildren.