VALE

Paul Michael Wiltshaw Waylen

14-03-39 - 07.04.25

Members of the Phillip Island Bridge Club we saddened as they learned of the unexpected passing of Paul Waylen, a beloved and long-term member.  Paul joined the Club in 2004 and was still playing the week before his death.

Known for his cheeky demeanour and generous spirit (often shouting the bar on special occasions) he was also a great club man and contributor.  He served on the Club Committee for 9 years; 4 years as President (2015-18), and 4 years as Vice President, plus one on the General Committee.

Whilst serving as our President he also joined the Board of the local Bendigo Community Bank in 2016. He was on their Board for 5 years before retiring, however was awarded an Honorary board position which he still held at the time of his death.

An excellent bridge player, Paul played with many partners over the years, and at the time of his passing was playing with Karen Klym and Anne Ferrari. Both of whom were very fond of him and are particularly devastated. Karen, whose words were read out at the Memorial Service, reminisced about Paul’s love of defending. “When the opponents didn’t make their contract, he would give me a cheeky wink across the table”. Win or not, he would always say “but we have fun don’t we”.

In other aspects of his full life, Paul was a son, sibling, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved and played a lot of golf. He had a stellar career (with a background in Civil Engineering) with Ascom, and then later after a stint at Transurban, as a national and international consultant. He was an active cattle farmer on Phillip Island with multiple farm properties and prize livestock.   A keen traveller and sailor, he visited family back in the UK almost annually and spent time in Europe.

His beautiful house and garden on Settlement Road in Cowes was a source of joy and pride. At home he slayed the cryptic crossword, completed diabolical sudoku puzzles and solved the 9 letter conundrums. So fast was he at seeing the word, he would record how many seconds it took him.

A Memorial Service was held for Paul at St John’s Uniting Church in Cowes on Thursday April 24. It was a beautiful morning of words and community. The bagpipes playing on arrival creating a call to the gathering flock of those who went to grieve and honour a life well lived.

A true old-fashioned gentleman. He will be missed.

LtoR Shirley Stewart, Don Stewart-Uden, Molly Downing, Karen Klym

Greg Nicholson and Deb Anglim

Greg Nicholson & Jean Barbour (Presented by Don Stewart-Uden)