Peter was born in West London in 1938 and so began the life of the man that the people gathered here today, as well as those who can’t be, were proud to call a loving family man, partner and friend. 37 years ago it was Peter who introduced himself to me when I was the new boy at Souriau.He was very welcoming and suggested we adjourned to the Pub - the first of many similar occasions when we put the world to rights. He started his working life as an apprentice electrician and his father signed him up to the company G.E.C for 63 months. He stayed with the company after he had qualified and it was here that he met his future wife Janet. After a few years, Heather and then Derek added to their happiness and Peter moved around through different jobs either in electrical departments or in another of his passions which was repairing vehicles. He helped people whenever he could, using the skills that he had. He offered to move my family from Andover to Maidenhead and enjoyed driving HGVs. He was Chair of the PTA at Heather and Derek’s primary school and he volunteered to do the electrics for the school plays, as well as helping friends and neighbours with the electrics in their homes. If he could lend a hand or listen to people when they needed advice he would. He also enjoyed using his gift of the gab which he had developed by working as a salesman for Souriau for ten years. He helped fundraise for the freemasons and enjoyed many years learning from his little book to progress up the freemason ladder and also stepping in and helping out when he could at ceremonies. He was first initiated into the Lodge of Finsbury 861 in 1986 and worked his way up to Worshipful Master and had his first ladies night with Janet by his side in 1993. He decided to go through the chair again and in 2000 was once again Worshipful Master and this time had his ladies night with Mandy alongside him. He was extremely honoured to be promoted to London Grand Rank in 2000 and called it being made Chief Poo Bear! Along the way he met several other lodge members and after being their guests, he eventually joined their lodges, Medway Lodge No 1678 in 2002 and Pickwick Lodge No 2467 in 2009. He liked people to enjoy themselves and was always the first to suggest a drink at the pub or to stop for tea and a sticky bun. Even in the hospice he turned to Heather after shed said it had been a good day and said I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself! I’m sure there are many people here today that wouldn’t of been to so many new places and learnt so much if they hadn’t of met Peter. Steam Railways paid a huge part in Peter’s life. Another shared memory I will always have is our trip to Wolsztyn in Poland where for one week, with Peter's help, I learned to drive a steam locomotive hauling daily trains full of unsuspecting passengers If only they knew! He always enjoyed getting his hands dirty, something we certainly did in Poland. He enjoyed many years of volunteering on the East Somerset Railway and was first past out as cleaner in 1978. He continued to work his way up the ladder as well as doing so much more and it was on 1 April 1991 that Peter finally worked his way to the top and was passed out as a Driver. Part of the railway experience was also retiring to the sleeping coach after a long hard day or an evening in the Strode arms literally drinking from a bucket of beer! He was offered a position at his beloved East Somerset Railway in 1997 and felt it was the right time to move to Somerset. It was here that he met Mandy and it wasn’t long before he asked her and Tamara to join him in the Station House and together they set about trying to turn the business around, working many hours and would sometimes see the sun go down and come back up again whilst clearing up with others after a wine and dine train. They continued to put their heart and soul into the railway as they knew how much joy it brought to people. When they left in 2001 they continued to work, rest and play together and one day Pippin, a small Chinese crested powder-puff came into join their lives. Peter loved having dogs in his life but had always taken the mickey out of people with small dogs as he’d seen himself as a large breed man and that smaller dogs were somehow inferior! His beloved Barney, the Labrador and Gemma the Old English were always at the heart of the family. Pippin melted him though and soon she became a faithful companion and was later joined by another rescue dog Muggie of the same breed. Leaving the railway meant there was much more time for day trips and holidays and he enjoyed taking his three grandchildren along with Tamara to theme parks and releasing his inner child on the rides. Peter always thrived on a project weither it was something large like the extension on his house or restoring a car such as his burnt out stag or something on a smaller scale such as building his model railway. He also loved his cars and was always looking out for something new. One day Peter, Janet, Pat and Dean went for a drink in Pete's new Mercedes. When they got in the pub, ordering the first drinks, it suddenly occurred to the men that Janet was no longer with them. In his hurry to get into the pub, he pressed the automatic lock button and Janet was locked in the car! He did though manage to fulfil his ultimate dream of owning a Jaguar and enjoyed driving around the country side in it. Finally he was content. Five minutes seems really inadequate to sum up 73 years of life However Peters friend Pat wrote him a letter that says a lot. "Hi Pete me old mate, over the last few months I have been going through old photographs and slides getting them sorted and catalogued. Many of these are of our days on the railway and give an extraordinary overview of our achievements. Early days on brake van trips and a photo of you trying to fix that bloody old lorry Shepherd had donated. We certainly wacked a few coats of paint on many things over the years and it was your expert guidance to Dean and me that enabled us to produce such a quality product. The greatest accolade was obviously the painting of Green Knight which was second to none. Footplate turns together were always such fun and how many people can say “I was an engine driver” – happy days. After a hard day’s work many pleasant evenings have been spent in Strode Arms putting the world to rights and having many a laugh. Our times together have forged a friendship which will last forever and I can only say I’m a richer person for having you as my friend. Even after I came home to Canada that friendship continued and I feel blessed to be able to call you my friend, as can Sue. My thoughts and prayers are with you - Pat" Like I’ve said the thing about a eulogy is the time allowed for it in this service isn’t very long and it would be lovely to carry on our thoughts of Peter as we meet together later or in the days, months and years ahead. Tell stories about him, share the memories you all have and above all raise a glass or two in honour of Peter.