We called him The Major.

The Leader of the Thirty Fifth.

Who gave his time so generously,

to a troop of Sea Scout boys.

We came there from all over.

From good homes and bad homes.

From rich homes and poor homes

his crew of buccaneers.

 

He gave us a place to meet.

A boat to sail and food to eat.

But most of all, like Baden Powell,

he taught us leadership.

In forty years we all have changed.

Some leaders and some “Barrow Boys.”

Some are gone and some still meet

In places the world over.

 

And Major Wall, what did he do?

Horizons change, he married too.

But still we were his motley crew.

The Thirty Fifth Westminster.

He served his country as M.P.

In tireless strides he walked the globe

for N.A.T.O. and Constituency.

He served old Britain well.

 

At last his work is recognized

by country and by Queen,

For now he is Sir Patrick Wall,

M.C. R.M. M.P.

But still to us he’s Major Wall.

Our leader in the Thirty Fifth.

Who gave so much to all of us,

His motley Buccaneers.

 

We thank you, Pat for all you’ve done

For us and many other men.

But most of all we want to say

God bless you Major Wall

 

 

David Garlick, England, Summer 1986