Vale Patrick Lewis
We were greatly saddened to learn of the death of Patrick Lewis on 11 August, 2021 at the age of 90. Patrick was a stalwart of the NSW Ryder Cheshire Foundation and had been an active member of our committee for twelve years.
Patrick’s first encounter with the Foundation was through Barbara Coleman, who worked as a volunteer for Leonard Cheshire in India from 1961 to 1965. After they married in 1973, they lived in South Australia and Barbara became involved in the South Australia Ryder Cheshire Foundation. Leonard and Sue made several visits there, and both Patrick and Barbara were involved in fundraising events for the Foundation.
When they moved to Sydney in 1985, Barbara joined the NSW Ryder Cheshire Foundation and later became its President. Patrick was her enthusiastic and loyal supporter on the sidelines throughout these years. In 2001, they travelled back to India, with four other Australian supporters, to visit Raphael and the other homes Leonard had established there under his name.
Following Barbara’s death in 2009, a bequest she had made to Raphael led to the establishment of Barbara Cottage. In 2010 Patrick, his son Sutomo and Melody Smythe travelled to Dehra Dun for the official opening of the Cottage. Priyo Lall, now CEO of Raphael, has fond memories of Patrick being persuaded to dance with the residents at the celebration that followed.
Patrick was always a loyal supporter of our fundraising functions, and at the beginning of 2011 he formally joined the NSW Committee. His warm and gentle presence and his wise counsel at our meetings made him a much loved and respected member of our group. At the conclusion of each meeting, we would enjoy light refreshments and the sharing of our comings and goings since the last meeting. Those are memories we will all treasure.
In NSW we are very grateful for the gift of both Barbara and Patrick to the work that we now carry on. Their commitment to carrying out the vision of Leonard and Sue serves as an inspiration to us all.
Christine Hannan
September 2001