Mayors Award and World War 2 Veteran Medallion Presentation

Thursday, 3 September 2020

This afternoon on the 75th Anniversary of Merchant Navy Day, Mayor Christina Holmdahl presented Pat and Alma Clements with a Mayors Award for their service to the Exeter and greater West Tamar Community.

This was alongside the presentation of a World War 2 Medallion and certificate to Mr. Clements by Veteran of the East Timor Peacekeeping Campaign, Mark Lockhart, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.

Mr. Clements will also celebrate his 96th Birthday this Saturday 5th of September, which was acknowledged by the Exeter RSL and Exeter Community Services Club, led by Exeter RSL President Arthur Kingston.

Congratulations and thank you Pat and Alma.

The Mayor's Award was presented with the following:

Pat and Alma Clements

It is an honour to be here to recognise two of our most amazing citizens. 

Whilst the list of Pat’s work and accomplishments is very extensive I am aware that throughout Alma has been alongside providing the support which helped make all this possible. 

Pat has lived in Exeter all his life except when he was overseas during the war. Pat is the resident who has lived in Exeter the longest. We think, having been married to Alma for 65 years, that the same may apply to them as a couple. 

He left school at 14, worked in deliveries and enlisted in the Army at 19. Pat served in New Guinea, Borneo and the Celebes. 

When he came home from the war he did two important things. First he got employment at the local bakery as a delivery person. He did that job for the next 43 years. Then he married Alma Kerrison in 1955 and they are still married!

Pat has been a long standing member of the local catholic church. One part of that has been his membership of St Vincent de Paul and his hospital visiting at Beaconsfield and other hospitals.

Pat is a founding member of the Exeter RSL. Helped make the bricks for the building and is still involved.

He has been a Member (often President, committee person, patron and Life Member of local Cycling, Football and Cricket clubs) for many years.

He has been in the West Tamar Probus Club and was president in 2001

Since 1949 Pat has been involved in the Exeter Show Society in many roles. One role that Pat specialises in doing is ‘working on the gate’. Everyone talks about Pat’s service to organisations through ‘working on the gate’!

Pat has been a member of the Beaconsfield Carers Support Group as has been Alma’s full time carer. 

Pat and Alma have two children and three grandchildren.

We are lucky to have two such wonderful people in our community.