Whitehead pays tribute to ‘tireless campaigner’

The author and local historian, also known to many in the seaside town simply by his initials P.J. (Patrick Joseph), died on Wednesday of last week after a short illness. He was 85.

Pre-deceased by his wife Stella - a teacher and principal at the former Lourdes Primary School - and sons Paul and Paschal, Paddy’s son Patrick, daughter-in-law Alison, grandchildren, Amy, Fergus and Robbie and wider family circle were joined by mourners from across the community.

They heard parish priest Father Peter Owens describe a determined character whose great loves were his family, Whitehead and golf.

Among those present in the church, the centenary of which was celebrated in Paddy’s book ‘The Catholic Church in Whitehead: A short History’ were representatives of Royal Portrush Golf Club, of which the one-time two-handicapper was a member for over 40 years.

Rev Owens drew laughter when he recalled that Paddy’s enthusiasm for the greens and fairways never faded with his ‘Doctor Golf’ master classes on the 10th green the stuff of legend at his hometown club where he was an honorary member and where the flag flew at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Author of a book on the history of the club, written to celebrate its centenary in 2004, he also penned ‘Whitehead, The Town with no Streets’, which is a comprehensive history of the development of Whitehead.

This was later followed by ‘Picturesque Whitehead’ featuring old photographs, pictures and documents.

While never short of an opinion whenever he felt Whitehead’s best interests weren’t being served, Paddy was a modest individual who took quiet satisfaction that copies of the latter works in particular had been obtained in America, Australia and Europe. It meant people shared his interest, if not his encyclopaedic knowledge, of the town where he was born on October 31, 1928.

Improvements to Blackhead path car park were among his more recent causes, while his attention to detail meant that information panels along the scenic path were, as he told this paper on a previous occasion, a challenge until the facts were amended to his approval.

Views on everything from conservation to restoration of the footbridge at the railway station and speeding to parking were shared by Paddy in a bid to improve life for citizens. He was always encouraging others to share his passion too. Delighted to see the former Northern Bank premises return as a business, he performed the official opening. A recent BBC programme on the lighthouse at Blackhead also benefitted from his input.

Following Requiem Mass, interment took place at Prospect Cemetery.