Peter, A Lifelong Friend to Howard
Created by Howard 3 years agoI was very saddened to hear of Peter’s death. I sent him a text on his birthday but it bounced back as undeliverable. He usually sent a card at Christmas but in 2020 nothing, and no response to mine so I began to fear the worst. I did an internet search and after a while arrived at this site where my fears were confirmed.
Peter and I went back a long way. We first met as eleven year olds when we started at St Gregory’s Secondary School in Kenton back in 1959. Our friendship continued after leaving school and we used to go about on our motorbikes. On one occasion we went down to Southsea on my bike and then, having not bothered to find anywhere to stay beforehand, ended up sleeping in a bus shelter!
I was best man at Peter’s wedding to Nikki, and later they moved to Woodley in Reading where Amanda their daughter was born. I went out with Nikki’s sister Carol for a couple of years but she tired of the relationship and decided to end it - can’t say I blame her.
Peter and I lost contact for a number of years and I don’t think we met up again until my fortieth birthday bash in Hemel Hempstead. I was glad he came and it was nice to meet his new partner Tanya, by this time I was married to Heather.
Three years later Heather and I and baby daughter Natalie moved to Northamptonshire with work and contact was lost again for a long time apart from Xmas cards. My in-laws lived in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire so we used to go down quite often to see them and as Peter had moved to Rickmansworth not far away it seemed a good idea to take time out from a visit and meet up with him. I contacted Peter and he was all for it so after another gap of about twenty years we met again at the Rose and Crown pub in Kings Langley. It was really great to get together with a couple of pints and catch up on all that had happened in our lives and remember the past like the couple of old codgers we were fast becoming. Then he moved to Clacton and there was quite a distance between us again. In Christmas texts we both agreed we should meet up again but we never set a date and continued with our own lives subconsciously thinking “There’s always another day” Unfortunately on this occasion it proved to be wrong.
Rest in peace Peter, it was a pleasure to have known you.
Peter and I went back a long way. We first met as eleven year olds when we started at St Gregory’s Secondary School in Kenton back in 1959. Our friendship continued after leaving school and we used to go about on our motorbikes. On one occasion we went down to Southsea on my bike and then, having not bothered to find anywhere to stay beforehand, ended up sleeping in a bus shelter!
I was best man at Peter’s wedding to Nikki, and later they moved to Woodley in Reading where Amanda their daughter was born. I went out with Nikki’s sister Carol for a couple of years but she tired of the relationship and decided to end it - can’t say I blame her.
Peter and I lost contact for a number of years and I don’t think we met up again until my fortieth birthday bash in Hemel Hempstead. I was glad he came and it was nice to meet his new partner Tanya, by this time I was married to Heather.
Three years later Heather and I and baby daughter Natalie moved to Northamptonshire with work and contact was lost again for a long time apart from Xmas cards. My in-laws lived in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire so we used to go down quite often to see them and as Peter had moved to Rickmansworth not far away it seemed a good idea to take time out from a visit and meet up with him. I contacted Peter and he was all for it so after another gap of about twenty years we met again at the Rose and Crown pub in Kings Langley. It was really great to get together with a couple of pints and catch up on all that had happened in our lives and remember the past like the couple of old codgers we were fast becoming. Then he moved to Clacton and there was quite a distance between us again. In Christmas texts we both agreed we should meet up again but we never set a date and continued with our own lives subconsciously thinking “There’s always another day” Unfortunately on this occasion it proved to be wrong.
Rest in peace Peter, it was a pleasure to have known you.
Pictures
Peter & Nikki with Howard
Peter and Howard
Peter and Nikki