Universally known as Pete, my brother was a familiar and well-loved figure about Marlborough: it is not only his family who are deeply grieving following his sudden death from a heart attack on Monday 30 September.
He was educated at Marlborough College in the fifties, but first came to live in the area in 1991 to start his tennis coaching career after retiring from his farming life in the south of Wiltshire.
With a very cheerful and sociable nature, he rapidly made friends here. But he was not just a charmer! He was a truly humane and kind man, always ready to help out a friend, and devoted to his brothers and sister and their families.
Although sadly he never married, children of all ages loved him: he was always willing to play any sport with them, from kicking a ball in the garden to expert coaching at squash or tennis.
He was a formidable but sporting opponent on court in his time, a nationally ranked squash player who represented his country on several tours abroad, and was Wiltshire squash champion for a record 10 consecutive years.
The funeral service will take place on Friday 25 October at St George’s, Preshute at 12 noon.
Mary Spender