"I'm on top of the world"
They lived for a few years in Deptford London, his brother Francis was born a couple of years later. Peter with Francis, went to St Joseph’s School in Deptford High Street We all know that school was not his favourite place.
Soon after sister Maureen was born and the family moved to live on Thames Street, Greenwich, right next to the River Thames. Another sister Audrey was born and then when Peter was just 9 years old war broke out.
Mum Charlotte, and the four children were evacuated to Hastings but according to Peter that was not a great success with them all squeezed into one room with baby Audrey sleeping in a drawer so they returned to London.
As the war became more intense a more organised programme of evacuation began with Peter and Francis evacuated with their school down to Brecon in mid Wales, far away from the danger of London bombing. School was still not his favourite place and Peter tells many stories of doing anything but attending school. It’s where he learnt to ride horses, ride pigs, row boats, do anything to make a bit of money. An original London scally.
Aged about 12 or 13 years old Peter made the most of living away from home. He was billeted next door to a young girl named Dorothy. Peter tells the story over and over that whilst playing a game on kiss chase on the promenade in Brecon with lots of the Welsh children, Dorothy came up from behind and landed a kiss on his cheek. He was surprised, he liked it and said there and then “That’s the girl I’m going to marry!”
The war ended in 1945, Peter returned to London and Dorothy and her mum later moved to Barry outside of Cardiff.
With the help of cheap train tickets from Dorothy’s work with the railways Peter and Dorothy maintained a long distance relationship with lots of ups and downs along the way but they eventually married in St Helen's church in Barry on 12th April 1952.
They settled in Barry, South Wales and started their family, Helen first followed 2 years later by Diane. With two young children and the third on the way they moved into Peter's family home back in Greenwich where Michael was born. Then with the offer of a house in Bracknell New Town they moved to Berkshire. Several years later Kathryn the youngest was born.
A new council house estate with space, freedom, great neighbours and a nearby bluebell wood was great for family life but but Peter still had aspirations and there were now four children in a three bed house.
An opportunity came up to join a self build group and the group between them eventually secured a plot in Wokingham on an old apple orchard to build 4 bungalows and two semidetached houses. It was a dream come true for Peter although Dorothy remained to be convinced but reluctantly agreed to move in on completion. Building the house Peter learned many skills and was involved in every aspect of the build. The move to Wokingham was a positive and permanent improvement for all.
Peter was busy earning money from a very early age, from driving dumper trucks, to asbestos factories, from factories to building sites, from labourer to plumber, for many companies Sperry’s, Extrudex, Blue Circle, North Sea Gas rigs and more until he went it alone as a dry liner come plasterer. His work was high quality, he was always in demand and he was never short of work.
Life became more comfortable and they were able to invest in reliable new family cars. He had learned to drive before most probably starting with dumper trucks, and was first in the street in Bracknell to own a car, an old post office van and used it to teach neighbours to drive as well as bundling us all into the back for trips to the coast. Peter loved to drive and was always on the road for either work or pleasure or to help someone out.
Peter and Dorothy shared a love of the sea and as all the children left home and they had more free time they purchased a static caravan at Weymouth Bay. It quickly became their second home and they were there almost every weekend the site was open. Slowly, slowly, they developed a strong circle of friends in Weymouth and an active social life. For his grandchildren Weymouth became a place of very special memories of quality time spent with Grand and Nan, and the great grandchildren love it even more. A caravan in Weymouth has been a focal part of Peter’s life for many, many years.
Peter always loved to travel from London to Brecon, to the south west coast with occasional trips up north for work. He eventually gained a passport around the age of 50 years and his world travel adventures are extensive from California, Brazil, Australia, and Sri Lanka to visit friends and extended family France to stay with Michael, to backpacking around India, Hong Kong and New Zealand, with Diane or Kathryn, or various cruises with Helen, Peter always jumped at any opportunity to travel and explore and meet new people. He was greatly loved wherever he went.
Throughout his life Dorothy remained his constant love and support. They did it all together.
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