The people of Alton gathered at the Church of St Lawrence to pay their respects to Patrick ‘Paddy’ Mendham.
Paddy, mayor of Alton in 1995-96 and 2005-06, died on December 27. A memorial thanksgiving service was held at the church on January 11.
A touching eulogy was delivered by Paddy’s son Paul Mendham, who thanked everyone for coming despite freezing weather and welcomed people watching online in the UK and Australia.
He said: “My sisters, Clare and Ruth, and I are very grateful for your kind words, and your love and care for Dad and Mum during their lives.
“My dear Dad was born in Watford on July 16, 1938, to parents Barny and Connie. He was the second of four boys, with older brother John, and younger brothers Tim and Bruce. They also had a sister, Gilly, who tragically died from pneumonia at just 18 months.
“He was Christened Patrick Victor Mendham, but I’m sure most of you would know him as Paddy.
“The family moved from Watford to Oxford, and Dad attended the City of Oxford High School for Boys. He played cricket and athletics – his chosen athletic events included javelin, discus, throwing the cricket ball and putting the shot.
“Despite excelling in most of his school subjects, he failed Latin multiple times. This prevented him attending Oxford University and directed him up to Birmingham University to read chemistry, where he met the love of his life, my Mum, Annis.
“I’ll quote Dad’s words he wrote for Mum’s memorial in May 2023: ‘I first saw Annis on November 4, 1961, on the train as I was travelling on from Oxford to Birmingham, and what particularly caught my eye was her lovely legs.
“I next saw her on December 2 at a hop in the students’ union in Birmingham. I recognised her across the room and asked her to dance. Afterwards, I saw her home on the bus to her Auntie Mabel’s house in Northfield.
“I had to borrow her bike to get back to my home, but I rode it too vigorously and it broke beyond repair. The bike clearly wasn’t designed to be used by a front row forward.
“Our next meeting was in Oxford. Despite the fact that Annis initially thought I was too old for her – she was 18 and I was 23 – we started to go out together.
“Dad made many lifelong friends at university. His best man Rod mentioned the London Brummy Lunches, initiated by chef Ralph in his Little Venice kitchen.
“After graduating, Dad joined the Dunlop Research Centre in Erdington, north-east Birmingham, where he made more friends, even acting as matchmaker. I also remember him playing rugby for Erdington.
“Friend and fellow Dunlopian Bob Campion recalls Dad had a great enthusiasm for anything or anyone he supported. Watford Football Club – the mighty Hornets – was one such example.
“Another friend, Bob Booker, recounts a time after a football match at Vicarage Road when they were invited to meet Ian Bolton, a player from Watford’s great team during the successful Elton John and Graham Taylor era.
“Bob tells it was like he was meeting royalty. When Bob did tease him about it afterwards Dad firmly denied he was starstruck.
“Mum and Dad were married on September 11, 1965, and went on honeymoon to Yugoslavia for two weeks for £40 each. In September 1967 I was born in Burton-upon-Trent.
“We moved to Shepton Mallet where Dad worked for Clarks shoes. At Clarks he was involved in the invention of a new hard-wearing compound called polyveldt. While in Shepton my sister Clare was born in 1969, and Ruth in 1974. Dad played rugby for Tor.
“It was in 1975 that Dad brought the family to Alton where he got a position managing RE Tyre & Rubber.
“I have been very touched that in telling various people around town that Dad had died, everyone seemed to have happy memories and plenty of praise for him. On more than one occasion he was fondly referred to as ‘part of Alton’.
“Dad’s love for others and his wish to serve the community, inspired by his Christian faith and possibly aligned with his enjoyment of the spotlight, led him into many different areas.
“He served on Alton Town Council, including twice as town mayor of Alton in 1995-96 and 2005-06, wearing the mayoral chains with pride.
“He sat as council representative on the Alton Community Hospital Stakeholders Communication Group, as well as Alton United Charities.
“He was a stalwart of Alton Rugby Club, playing in the 1st XV, including a time when he broke his ribs in a Hampshire Cup game against Basingstoke. He then became 2nd XV captain, including one especially successful season I believe they went through undefeated.
“I remember playing alongside Dad, possibly by then in the 3rd XV. Being younger, smaller and faster when compared to the team’s veterans, I mostly played out in the backs.
“On one occasion after I’d been felled by a high tackle I remember Dad running across from a ruck on the far side to remonstrate with the offending tackler. The referee awarded a penalty against him, but relented when Dad pleaded ‘But that’s my son!’, and the ref gave us a scrum instead!
“After retiring from RE, he was general manager at Cardiac Rehab from 1999 to 2003, and after this worked alongside Mum in setting up the Alton branch of the Anna Chaplaincy.
“He and Mum were very heavily involved in the church here, especially in Beech. It was at St Peter’s Beech that he and Mum first attended church regularly together.
“They each served in many ways, Dad during the services and Mum behind the scenes, with the flowers, and in cleaning and preparing the church, including the polishing of the brass candelabra.
“Dad enjoyed working alongside Mum with the North Hampshire National Trust Centre, and would regularly pass on news of the latest happenings at the magnificent Vyne National Trust property.
This picture of Paddy was used on the front cover of his Order of Service (Paddy Mendham)
Paddy Mendham, the second oldest of four boys, with his brothers and parents (Paddy Mendham)
Paddy, on the far left at the back, has just seen Roger Bannister become the first person to run a mile in under four minutes (Handout)
Paddy and Annis get married in 1965 (Paddy Mendham)
“To quote current chairman Dr Hugh Bethell: ‘Paddy and Annis saved this local branch of the National Trust from oblivion.’
“I know Dad played for other teams in rugby and cricket, and was involved in activities including starting the popular Men’s Nights Out, and being heavily involved with Round Table and local schools St Lawrence Primary and Alton Convent.
“In the Order of Service you’ll see his young face in the historic photo taken at the Iffley Road Track after Roger Bannister’s record-breaking sub-four-minute mile.
“Again, in Dad’s words: ‘Annis and I shared more than 57 happy years together and were blessed with three wonderful children, Paul, Clare and Ruth, and seven highly talented grandchildren, Zoe, Cara, Jay, Jemima, Angus, Bobby and Sonny.
“I know that all grandparents think their grandchildren are very special, but it turns out that we are actually correct! We are very proud of all of them – our family has been the great joy of our lives.
“Dad’s strong Christian faith inspired his life of loving friendship, care and service, ultimately coming from his love of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a faith I’m sure he would want you to know too.
“Dear Dad, Paddy, may you rest in peace and rise in glory. We love you.”