Patrick and Veronica Watts at Countryman in 1987.
patrick watts, born 1912
monk, catholic priest & teacher
Patrick Thompson was born in Ireland. When aged 17 he went to Mount St Bernard Abbey, Leicestershire to become a monk and remained there until 1936. He then left the monastic tradition and went to the Catholic seminary at St Edmund’s College, Ware, Hertfordshire, to train for the priesthood. He worked for a while as a priest in the Westminster Diocese. In 1943 he joined the Army as a chaplain, including some postings in Egypt. After the war Patrick returned to the Westminster Diocese, working as a priest in Poplar, Soho, Croxley Green and Willesden. He had for some time been experiencing doubts about his vocation as a priest and eventually decided to leave the priesthood. In 1976 Patrick married Veronica Watts, acquiring four stepchildren, and with her established and ran the Arun Tutors boarding school.
Click below to view his life story:
Source: One of seven life stories extracted in 2020 by Tony Watts (stepson of Patrick Watts) from a family history written jointly by him and his three siblings: Paul, Veronica Mary, and Clare.