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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