Time for Pat’s Last Run with classic car convoy through Leighton Buzzard

Family man Pat Treadaway, 74, died on November 22, after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind children Pete and Laura, grandchildren Leonard, Henry and Kathleen, and beloved pooch Thomas.

In honour of their father’s cherished pastime, Pete and Laura have organised ‘Pat’s Last Run’ on December 12, a convoy to transport Pat to his final resting place at Bierton Crematorium.

Pete said: “Dad was a classic vehicle enthusiast for all of his life and the LBO has featured him and his fire engines on several occasions. He was a well-known character around town, helping on the market when he wasn’t working on his latest project.

“His wish was to be carried on the back of his 1960s Bedford CA pick-up truck to his funeral and to be followed by his mates in classic vehicles.”

Pat was born in Ashford, Kent, on June 11, 1946. His father Henry (Harry) had served in the Navy during the war, while his mother, Kathleen, a sharp businesswoman, had built up a chain of fish and chip shops in London while he was away.

So, soon after the war ended, the Treadaways moved to Harry’s home turf of Finchley.

Luckily for Pat, the family still had roots in Kent, so he was able to spend “six weeks of happiness” there each summer with his Aunt Flo and Uncle Tom in Laddingford.

Pete said: “He was as animated as I have ever seen him when he described the experience of the ‘old foreman’ letting him have a go on his shotgun at 12 years of age, or the time when Uncle Tom took him to see his traveller friends in a ‘lovely caravan’ and they let him loose driving a tractor.”

Back in London, Pat didn’t have much success at school because he had dyslexia - which was not greatly understood - and his teachers just thought he was “lazy”.

Determined to prove them wrong, Pat left school aged 15 and set about forging a busy career for himself. Over the years he had several jobs, including milkman (collecting from farms), shoe shop staff member, postman, working for Redlands (lorries), and being a bus driver for Redkite.

Laura said: “Once the kids were playing up badly, and so he turned the bus around and took them all back to school.

“The headteacher said ‘well done, Pat’, and the parents had to be called to come pick up the kids!”

Pat was also a founder member of Chiltern Vehicles Preservation Group (CVPG), and the Quainton Railway Society, now the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

Pat married Pete’s mum in 1971 but unfortunately things didn’t work out. He married Lynda Treadaway in 1975 and the happy family moved to Dove Tree Road, Leighton Buzzard. However, Lynda (who passed away in 2019) didn’t have access to the house’s side door thanks to her husband’s 1950s Albion Furniture truck on the drive!

Pat’s collection of classic vehicles included: Albion Furniture van; single decker bus - LUC 211; Dennis F12 fire engine - MAU; 1938 Leyland FK6 ‘half-cab’ fire engine - CTX 900; Bedford CA pick-up (current and to be used to carry the coffin to the crem); and various old cars - MG, Spitfire, Cortina.

He enjoyed travelling to exhibits over the years, including ones in London and Birmingham as well as local rallies and school fetes.

Laura describes her father as “loud, friendly” and a “wind-up merchant”, and has fond memories of people waving at the fire engines.

She said: “We are hoping for around 30 classic vehicles on Pat’s Last Run, following Dad and giving a honk of honour.”

The convoy will start at 11.15am from Dove Tree Road. The form up location for the rest of the vehicles is to be confirmed. Pat’s Last Run will travel down Meadway, Appenine Way (exiting near Jupiter Drive), Hockliffe Road, Hockliffe Street, Leston Road, West Street, Leighton Road, Stoke Road, A4146, A418 (Wing), through Rowsham and to Bierton Crematorium.

Pete and Laura are hoping residents can safely wave Pat off whilst adhering to social distancing rules.

To find out more about Pat’s Last Run: www.patslastrun.com/ or call Pete on 07456 971840.