MARY and ROWLAND LISHMAN'S wishes for the PATTERDALE HALL TRUST

What Rowland though, Mary though - on ALL matters. And genuinely

too. They were so bound in each other's thoughts that few people were

ever allowed to share them, even his own children.

His accountant and right-hand man, Noel Gradon, was, of necessity,

aware of almost every aspect of his doings and dealings. But Noel was the ideal

confidential and trusted servant, completely convinced of the rightness of any

decision "RL" took and every view he held, Noel would believe implicitly.

I was known to Rowland Lishman for at least 10 years before chance threw his

daughter and me together. Though he never met criticism from anybody else around

him, he knew that I occasionally felt the need to state an opposite view,

without fear or favour. He would always receive it seriously and reexamine his

position on the issue. Only if religious dogma was concerned was he implacable.

There was mutual admiration between us all the time, but never any acrimony. I

regarded him as the truest socialist I had ever encountered in life (I don't

mean "Socialist", an adherent of the Labour Party, for they are anything but

socialist) My 'socialist' means purveyor of practical Christianity (as against a

displayer of the outside advertisments of Christianity, and the meaningless

jargon of the Church).

In one of our walks along Tynemouth beach when I was on leave as a pilot in

the R.A.F., he found that i intended to change my profession after the war to

become a doctor. He thought it a splendid idea. He mulled it over in his mind

for a few hundred yards then explained that one of his most difficult tasks in

life was to give away his considerable income (he gave me some very convincing

financial details) without doing harm. He was quite sure that it would confer a

benefit to the community to use it to convert me into a doctor and could we

agree to that. I said a very flat "No". (without the curtesy of a "thank you"

with it).

He advanced some cogent reasons why it would be a good thing for him to do

it. I told him that I had cogent reasons why it would be a bad thing for me. I

could, and would, manage without, but thanks all the same.

When I first took up my practice, after qualifying, he promptly requested to

become one of my patients!

It turned out to be a very good thing for him.

Mary was always sweet to me from the very start of my courtship with jean,

and she remained so, even consolidating it throughout her widowhood, during

which time I think I was her only confidante.

I knew from my discussions what both of them wanted with regard to

Patterdale. When Rowly died and I was asked by the Trustees to take over I did

so purely because it was the Lishman Trust and I was thoroughly agreed with

their principles. I was not a "YMCA" person.

They were not believers in luxury as a way of living. They believed that

youngsters should work with steady determination and they should study to gain

qualifications. They should equip themselves to be able to earn their living. He

was absolutely opposed to inherited wealth and left none.

At the Lakes he was against the provision of luxury accommodation and was in

favour of people getting themselves out on to the hills and along the valleys

and the Lakes as much as possible, and to tire themselves out physically. He

regarded that as healthy living and proper holiday recreation. He didn't mind

getting wet.

He adored the Lakes and he hired holiday accommodation for a month each year

for all his family, and for as many of their friends and his relations as he

could squeeze in to Burnett's boarding house. He perpetually dressed in "white"

short trousers a "white" ganzy, grey and white short socks and wholesome shoes.

No hat at any time, but when he relaxed and walking around with Mary he may wear

a well-used grey jacket. He had permanent hire of a large rowing boat which was

in constant use for outings or for rowing around the Lake.

He loved the peace and quiet of the place and its changelessness. He wanted

it undisturbed. above all he wanted others to enjoy it as well, and to learn to

love it and so preserve it for the future in the same state of ancient

tranquillity as he found it.

Mary Lishman would tell me every noe and again that she was grateful for the

way in which I had taken over Rowly's work out there and consolidated it as a

really going concern that he would have been very happy with.

Noel Gradon was even more explicit about the Estate which had become so much

more os a success than he had ever expected. Noel had done more than any of us

for the Lishman Trust by the time he died.