Here’s one I’ve drawn a blank on for years..
My parent’s former neighbour, Pat Reyre, did a wartime tour as a pilot on Lancasters followed by some time served as a test pilot. He’s still very much alive (and very much kicking – a Google search will show the results of his recent campaign against the ‘postcode lottery’ of NHS treatment).
The thing is, although he once told me his wartime postings and where he went immediately after, it was long ago over several sherries at my folks’ place and much to my shame as a dabbling enthusiast I really can’t remember!
I very occasionally turn my hand to scale modelling, and for my next project I wanted to present Pat with one of his own A/C, as accurate as possible – codes, serial and noseart if any. I know this can be a delicate area, but in Pat’s case I am confident it would be very much appreciated. I really don’t want to ask him again, as a) he doesn’t suffer fools like me gladly, and b) it would run the risk of spoiling the surprise!
Pat is of French extraction, and I believe he anglicised his first name at some point.
So, over to the forum.
Cheers,
Matt
By: Beermat - 31st March 2025 at 14:34
Thanks all so far!!
Oops. Did I make the name ‘Patrique’ up?
Kev – Nice work – that’s more than I had before! At least I know he wasn’t making it all up now (JOKE – he certainly wasn’t).
Yes, I was worried about that, too, AM. I just hope that he’s not in the habit of self-Googling!
Pat, if you are – you got me.
By: Arabella-Cox - 31st March 2025 at 14:34
He’s still very much alive (and very much kicking – a Google search will show the results of his recent campaign against the ‘postcode lottery’ of NHS treatment).
I really don’t want to ask him again, as a) he doesn’t suffer fools like me gladly, and b) it would run the risk of spoiling the surprise!
I just tried the google search and this thread was the first to come up – if he’s as alert as you suggest, the surprise might get spoiled anyway!
By: kev35 - 31st March 2025 at 14:34
He is first noted in the London Gazette regarding his promotion from 1323734 Flight Sergeant Patrick David Reyre to 187868 Pilot Officer Reyre on 13th November 1944.
I know it’s not what you were looking for but perhaps it’s a start.
Regards,
kev35
By: avion ancien - 31st March 2025 at 14:34
I suspect that the pre-anglicisation version of your parents’ former neighbour’s name might have been patrice rather than patrique – so perhaps this might be useful as the third line of enquiry!
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January 14, 2010 at 12:51 pm