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Town comes together in memory of museum founder

Kirsten Robertson,West of Englandand
Scott Ellis,Taunton
News imageBBC Pat wearing a red trucker cap and dark blue overalls standing in his museum. A car and a motorcycle can be seen behind him but out of focus.BBC
Patrick Hawkins had been a car enthusiast since he was 11-years-old

The memory of a motor museum founder has been honoured with a classic car event and the installation of a defibrillator.

Patrick Hawkins opened the County Classics Motor Museum in Taunton, Somerset in 2023, with former Top Gear star Richard Hammond at the ribbon-cutting.

He died aged 68 on 6 August 2025, after struggling with a heart defect. His colleagues and friends have now funded a new defibrillator in his memory and held a classic car event - named Patrick Day - to remember him.

Tim York, curator of the museum, said: "He would hate we've called it Patrick Day, he never sought the limelight. But if he was still here, I can tell you he would absolutely love it."

News imageA man smiles widely while stood in front of classic cars which are parked in a row in front of a yellow wall. He has short get hair and is wearing a burgundy polo shirt.
Tim York said his friend Patrick Hawkins would have been touched by the event

A Ford Capri Mark 1 3-litre GT XLR, Patrick's favourite model, was among the classic cars which pulled up in Taunton on Sunday.

York continued: "We believe it is the oldest one left of that model.

"Patrick bought and sold his first car at the age of 11 and morphed into a motor trader from there. He always had a good eye for the right car."

Hawkins had major surgery and various health battles but his "sheer determination and a will to win" got the museum open in 2023, York added.

The defibrillator created in Hawkins' memory is in place on Taunton's High Street.

Mayor Bev Fernandes, who unveiled it earlier, said: "Any defibrillator is always needed, we never have enough."

News imageA woman in a stripy blouse, with short grey hair and glasses smiles widely with classic cars and people milling around behind her
Mayor Bev Fernandes helped mark Patrick Day in Taunton

"I think he [Patrick] would have been really really pleased that this is here," she added.

Taunton businesses will be trained on how to use the new defibrillator in the case of an emergency.

It cost £1,705 to implement and the money was raised in Hawkins' memory.

Josh Bell, a volunteer with Great Western Air Ambulance, said the defibrillator was "massively needed" in Taunton and formed a "fantastic legacy" for the museum founder.

News imageA man in a blue t shirt with short dark hair is stood next to a defibrillator. He is smiling, and directly behind him is a shopfront with pictures of cars in the window.
Josh Bell says the new device is easy to use and gives instructions

He added: "Defibrillators are called upon for cardiac arrests. They'll talk to you, they're full automatic and can resuscitate if they need to."

As part of Patrick Day, the inaugural Patrick Cup was presented to Diane Hawkins from Wellington.

She was crowned the owner of the most interesting car, a Ford Cortina bought by her great uncle in Dagenham in 1967, which was passed down through her family.

News imageA woman in a yellow vest stood in front of a green car
Diane Hawkins said her car had 'lots of good memories' and would continue to be passed down the family and 'never' be sold

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