Well, dear Roy - where do I start??
I first met Roy, and of course Sheila, in 1989 when they joined the Morgan Sports Car Club with their Plus 8 which, interestingly, is finished in the Morgan Motor Company 'house' colours of blue and silver although I doubt whether that particular aspect was at all instrumental in the purchase of the car. No sooner had they joined the Club than they started to become involved in the activities of AngleMog which, for the non-Morgan owners amongst you, is the pseudonym for the East Anglian Centre of the Club.
In fact, I have looked through my old copies of "Miscellany" which, again for you non-Morganeers, is the Club magazine and the first mention which I am able to find appears in the July 1989 issue which states that amongst the new members attending at the Chapel Inn, Coggeshall on 26th May were Roy and Sheila although the Centre notes go on to record, and I quote, "sorry, missed your surname" !!! It also shows the dedication of Roy and Sheila inasmuch that of the remaining six people who, like them, were attending their first meeting, only one other couple is still part of the Morgan scene.
Roy came into Morgan ownership via a series of three vintage Austins and a rather delectable post-vintage thoroughbred in the shape of a Lagonda. Indeed, at the time of his passing he was still a member of the Vintage Sports-Car Club. With my own love of pre-war motoring, it was immediately apparent that Roy and I shared a certain affinity and, I am pleased to say, that affinity never waivered.
From our first meeting, I realised that Roy had a naturally enquiring mind and whenever an unknown Morgan arrived at a noggin, Roy, and it must be said a number of other "petrolheads" (to use modern terminology), would be outside in the car park to peer into the nooks and crevices of the car in question.
It didn't stop there, of course, and smaller items would have to be dissected in order to find out what made them tick. Tick - an operative word, indeed, for amongst Roy's other interests was horology of which, I must confess, I know little but to Roy the intricate and tiny workings of pocket watches, the older the better, offered a challenge.
Such a diversity of interests continued with narrow boats, guns and even classic aeroplanes, although to my knowledge Roy never actually owned an aeroplane - who knows, probably given half a chance even that might have been a possibility. I can well remember a visit some years ago to Audley End Aerodrome with the Spitfire Society and, needless to say, Roy was in his element - like the proverbial kid in the sweetshop!
However, he and Sheila did spend many happy years enjoying their narrow boat until, regrettably, his failing health meant that he was no longer able to operate the lock gates. I know that they really looked forward to their quality time on the canals and waterways of Britain away from the sheer hustle and bustle of the 20th and 21st centuries and such a gentle pastime proved a perfect foil to some seriously hard driving in a Plus 8 Morgan!
Similarly, some years ago Roy became a member of a local gun club and proceeded to amass a magnificent gun collection. When this collection had to be dispersed following a change in government regulations over the personal possession of certain weapons, it saddened him immensely.
And who could possibly forget the ferrets?? Yes, Roy proved that it was possible for somebody south of Watford to successfully keep ferrets as pets.
As I said earlier, Roy and I shared a common bond from the outset in classic motor cars and classic aeroplanes and on many occasions he would flatter me by commenting on how I managed to capture on film a Spitfire or Mustang on 'finals' at Duxford or an ERA or a Bugatti frozen perfectly in centre frame as they braked for a corner at Goodwood.
This may have been the case although, as far as I was concerned, the camera was doing all of the work - BUT, Roy had a far, far greater talent than that.
This most self-effacing and gentle man with the wonderful sense of humour was one of the most talented artists anybody could wish to meet and whilst, I suppose, many of us here today will remember him best for the Christmas cards depicting Morgans or the paintings of our cars which we commissioned, his repertoire of subjects was endless. It is just impossible to believe that those hands which were at home equally with paintbrush or screwdriver are now at rest.
Nine years ago I celebrated a 'special' milestone birthday and I believe that one of the earlier commissions from the local Morgan group undertaken by Roy was a painting of what affectionately became known as "my three mistresses" - in fact, a painting of two Morgans and an MG presented to me as a birthday present by AngleMog.
Since Friday 30th September that painting, which hangs in our lounge, has taken on a very special significance and I am so pleased that this huge and rare talent and Roy's legacy live on in his paintings which adorn certainly a number of homes in East Anglia and, hopefully, much further afield.
Yes, Roy Pratt and I shared an affinity in many things and I could talk to him for hours - and often did!! I shall miss him dreadfully.
But not nearly as much as Sheila, Austin and Deringer and the rest of his family.
God bless you, Roy and when you reach those Gates, don't forget to brake!!!!
John Goodman