Peter John England 42C

by Angela England, his daughter.

images to follow

Peter England was born in Exmouth, Devon on 25 March 1928 to parents Lillian and William.  He was the eldest of five, with brothers Richard and Robert and two sisters, Pam and Lois.  When he was 14, Peter joined the boy service and did an apprenticeship for four years and then joined as a full-time soldier when he was 18.  Peter was at Aborfield during his boy service years and then joining as a full-time soldier, his first posting was Palestine in the mid 1940s.  

Peter met his wife, Pat on a troop ship sailing out to Hong Kong.  Pat was due to serve 2 years in the Army being dropped off at Singapore.  She came back to England and waited for him and they married on 4 August 1951 at St Giles Church, Whittington, Staffordshire where Peter and Pat eventually settled for most of their lives.  Peter and Pat had four children, Michael, Susan, Angela and William.  

Peter left the Army in 1968 and joined the Road Transport Industry Training Board when he was 40 years old.  He subsequently joined GEC in Stafford as a personnel officer.  By 1990, aged 62, Peter was still working and carried on until he was about 70.  

Peter had five grandchildren, Ben, Rachel, Katharine, Jasmine and Josh.  He also had a great-granddaughter, Amber.  Peter was a devoted husband to Pat who died in 2011, just a few months short of their 60th wedding anniversary.  

Peter was a true gentleman, loved and admired by so many.   He had a good sense of humour, loved his family, enjoyed his whisky drinks, tended his garden, enjoyed military documentaries and films, was an avid reader, loved cats.  An intelligent and thoughtful man with an interesting repertoire of stories from the past.  He always presented himself well, had a smile and a good word for everyone.  He was humble and grateful for anything done for him, and he was generous and kind.  He is sorely missed by his family.  A wonderful father.  

Peter died after a short illness in hospital, succumbing to pneumonia.  He was a stoic and uncomplaining patient and enjoyed his life to the full right up to the end.  He was content and fussed over which is what he deserved after a lifetime of graft and unselfish commitment to others.  

Aborfield was always in his heart.  He often referred to his time there, his friends who he remembered and spoke of.  He was delighted to receive the OBAN publication regularly, treasuring each copy.

RIP Peter England.