Pat Moore, ‘a pillar of our local community who devoted himself to charitable causes’, passes away aged 98

SEVENOAKS resident Pat Moore, whose heroic efforts in the second world war as a sapper with the Royal Engineers on Juno beach during the Normandy landings – and his subsequent community work within the French town – led to him being awarded the Légion d’Honneur, the highest military decoration in France, passed away on Sunday at the age of 98.

His community work within the Sevenoaks area was also well known and highly respected, and he devoted 50 years of voluntary service to both Sevenoaks Mencap and Sevenoaks Town Council. Last year he was also elected as the life president of the Sevenoaks Branch of the Royal British Legion.

He worked closely with the Town Council on the annual Remembrance Day and other WW1 commemorative events. A statement released on behalf of the town council said that the Mayor, Cllr Nicholas Busvine OBE, and Sevenoaks Town Councillors were very saddened to hear about his death, adding that he had been a wonderful ambassador for his generation and for Sevenoaks.

Cllr Busvine said: “I have just learnt that Pat died last night. May I pay tribute to him not only as a war hero, but as a pillar of our local community who devoted himself to charitable causes after the war.  I am so glad that he was able to celebrate the D-Day 75th anniversary last month.  His work to build community ties with friends in Normandy was recognised during the visit when a local school in Graye-sur-Mer was named after him.

Pat Moore has served the local communities of Sevenoaks and Graye-Sur-Mer for more than 50 years. Throughout this time, he has exemplified the motto of the Royal Engineers Association ‘Service Not Self’ and has acted as a true ambassador of the Royal Engineers and British Army with the residents of Normandy.

Mr Moore was invited to be the guest of honour during the recent second world war 75th anniversary events in Normandy where he met and shook the hand of President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Moore was originally born and lived in London before moving to Sevenoaks. He became a sculptor and a teacher and is survived by his wife Audrey and son Richard.