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JACK PATTEN, CStJ, CD, AdeC

Jack Patten was born in the UK in 1937. He passed away on January 19, 2013 in Nanaimo, BC. Jack is survived by his wife Jacqueline; his two children, Lee (Laurel), Lesley (Talal) and four grandchildren: Trevor, Taylor, Troy and Layla, with another grandchild on the way. He and his wife Jacqueline have been married for 51 years. With their son, Lee, they have operated Bastion Trophies in Nanaimo since 1983.

Jack moved to Newhaven, Sussex in 1946 and completed school there as well as City and Guilds certificate from Brighton College of Arts and Crafts. Jack was a member of the St. John Ambulance Cadets 1947-1950 and Air Cadets from 1949-1953. He immigrated to Canada in 1956 and set up business in Nanaimo with his brother as a sign painting shop. He joined “B” Company, Canadian Scottish Regiment as a militiaman and served for four years. He returned to the UK in 1960 to be married in 1961. He was commissioned in the RAF and served as a cadet officer in the Air Cadets. He completed several survival courses with the RAF including running the Outward Bound School, Sea survival at RAF Mountbatten, and mountain rescue at RAF Llanwrust, North Wales.

He returned to Canada in 1972 and became CO of the Nanaimo Army Cadets and later taking over command of “B” Coy C Scot Regt Militia. Upon the end of his term as OC “B” Coy he reverted to 2/IC and did another four year term as CO of 2422 Army Cadets. Jack was gazetted as Aide de Camp to the Lt. Governor of BC in 1990 and has served to this date, serving 5 Governors, Dr. Lam, Garde Gardom, Iona Campagnolo, Steven Point and Judy Guichon. He has also served as Aide de Camp to Princess Alexandra.

Jack started on the board of St. John Ambulance in 1991 and has served as the Divisional Superintendant of the Cadets as well as D/S of the Adult Brigade and recently served as the Admin Officer for BC/Yukon. He served many years as the PR Officer for Vancouver Island St. John Ambulance. Jack was instrumental in getting Lt. Governor Lam to donate $20,000 to start the campaign to construct St. John House in Nanaimo and served on the successful fundraising committee which emanated from that initial donation.

Jack’s involvement in the community included being a member of the Malaspina Toastmasters, Nanaimo Empire Days Committee, and founding member of the Western Front Association Pacific Region. He was recognized as the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” in 1992. Jack is a Commander in the Order of St. John and holds a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canada 125th Medal, Canadian Forces Medal with two bars and a Long Service Medal and two bars for St. John. He was awarded the Provincial Chair’s Commendation for St. John in 2007 and the Lt. Governor Commendation in October 2012.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Nanaimo Armoury starting at 2:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the BC Cancer Foundation, St. John Ambulance Nanaimo or a charity of your choice.



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