N O. 1 2 1 T H E T R U S T Y S E R VA N T
He took early retirement in 2000, aged 50. For over 20 years he had led us scientists gloriously and thanks to Peter’ s amazing drive, commitment and talent he left a Science Department widely regarded as the best in the country.
Peter moved to Bridgwater, Somerset where, with plenty of energy left in the tank, he played a major role in the local community. He continued as a major figure for the West Somerset Railway( those up to him will recall that the back bench of his laboratory was always covered with railway paraphernalia, signs to be painted, rusty bits and pieces to be cleaned.) He could turn his hand to anything he wanted – woodwork, metalwork, mental work, it all came easily to Peter. He was as gifted practically as he was cerebrally.
His work for Bridgwater, as Vice- Chairman of the Civic Society( coordinating the rebirth of a local museum and input to Town Planning were just two of his‘ retirement’ activities) were recognised in 2009 when he was awarded the Bridgwater Cup.
He worked too on the area’ s Blue Plaques. He should have one too.
Peter was also a most cultured man; he loved early music with a special
fondness and sponsored the renowned Stile Antico ensemble.
But arching over and enmeshed through everything ran Peter’ s love of his family. He would need little prompting to talk with obvious pride of his children Helen, Laura, Jane and John and of his five grandchildren. And he knew how lucky he was to have Ann always there for him, from the university years right through to retirement. Peter had suffered for a while with a congenital heart problem. He died peacefully at home, on 16th March, 2015, with Ann at his side.
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A few pointers to longevity
Contributed by David Fellowes( I, 63-67):
At the age of 66, I confess occasionally to feeling a little more mortal than I might like, but out of the blue I was tasked by Alex Roe and his editor with the great privilege of interviewing Lt Col The Lord Wigram MC DL( H, 28-34 and late of the Grenadier Guards) for The Trusty Servant. Immortality suddenly seemed an option once more – just consider for a moment: if I hadn’ t given the game away by supplying his dates in what was then known as Culver’ s Close, what approximate age you would have applied to the splendid gentleman in this photograph? There he is on his birthday, 100 years young on 2nd August, 2015. I’ ll warrant it would be nowhere near that age, which is just a pip over one-and-ahalf times my own!
He is a third-generation Old Wykehamist and father and grandfather to two more, thus extending the Wigram strain to five generations, including Lord Wigram [ from now on‘ Neville’]’ s distinguished father, Sir Clive, later The Rt Hon The Lord Wigram GCB GCVO CSI, who served on Winchester’ s Governing Body from 1938 to 1951. So, Will( H, 1997-02): no pressure there, then!
We met at Neville’ s house in Fairford, Gloucestershire on 17th March and chatted for an illuminating hour-and-aquarter. We kicked off with a gentle notions test in lieu of any rather less endearing modern-day money-laundering ID procedures. Needless to say, our man passed with flying colours, including a full run-down of House names, the thenresident Housedons( such as‘ Harry A’,‘ Jacker’,‘ Bin’,‘ Bobber’ and the rest); even that tongue-twister of a Chawkerite stratband was trotted out:‘ Oh yes, that’ s plum, straw, plum, light blue, plum, straw, plum’! Extraordinary, and all said with a teasing twinkle in his eye, begging me for more!
Neville ended his time in Trant’ s as Head of House and recalls being called upon to say a few words to mark the official opening of‘ Trant Room’ in 1934, in memory of the House’ s founder, The Reverend‘ Trant’ Bramston, Housedon from 1869 to 1908, who had died in 1931.
On his 100th Birthday
He had the fondest memories of this much-loved don, recalling his deafness and some‘ silly games’ they would play at his expense, such as the utterance in a measured whisper of:‘ Tickle your a ** e with a feather’;‘ Sorry, what was that you
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