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Patrick was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, second son to Molly and John Templeman and later adopted, aged seven, by Group Captain C A H Evans (Hugh) who had married his mother Molly in 1938. Tragically Hugh was killed in 1942 while on active service in the East, but those brief years of connection left a lasting impression on the young boy. Patrick was educated at Seafield preparatory school and then at Lancing College where Hugh had been schooled. His education at Lancing was paid for by the RAF Benevolent Fund and Patrick was followed there by his half-brother Nick, a short time after Patrick himself had left. His time at Lancing was a happy one, boarding in Sanderson's House under the care of Basil Handford. His memories of those times, apart from long bouts standing next to the radiators in Great School having been jettisoned from language classes, was being taught the intricacies of the Lee-Enfield .303 on the grass outside the Chapel and long walks over the South Downs with his more adventurous contemporaries. Due in no small part to the time spent contemplating his future next to the trusty radiators and to the dismay of those charged with his education he took his Civil Service exams and entered RMA Sandhurst. From there he was commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment before transferring to the Royal Corps of Signals. In 1958 following a Mess night while serving in Germany, he and a young Pakistani officer decided to drive from Dusseldorf to Lahore in a new Ford Anglia reasoning it would be cheaper than trying to import it into the country. They left Germany on 8 July and, after many breakdowns but with their humour intact, reached Lahore on 19 August. He then went on to serve for two years in Malaya before returning to Germany in 1961. Patrick married Catharine in 1963 and was conveniently posted to British Guiana before the arrival of their first child. He enjoyed all the lone sports of gliding, free fall parachuting and orienteering, passing his love of the open air and outdoor pursuits to his offspring at every opportunity. The hills and rocks of all postings becoming the excuse for many a picnic. Lancing remained an important factor in Patrick's life and having settled in Hampshire during the mid-70s it became the obvious choice to send his own son Hugh there to experience a part of what he himself had so fondly remembered. The magic worked and 31 years later he had great pleasure in dropping his two eldest grandsons off to start their own journeys at the school. In August 2013, Patrick celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with Catharine who, with their three children, Hugh, Charlotte and Philippa, survives him.
