I am so shocked and saddened to learn of Peter's death.
My heartfelt sympathies and love go out to Carol, Brian and Gillian.
I first met Peter on Rootschat in August 2004. We discovered that he had lived in Macclesfield and I in Wilmslow when we were teenagers, and went to the same disco on Saturday nights, but never met.
Because Ancestry had not yet transcribed the 1841 and 1861, we used to swap CDs with the Cheshire census and Marriage Indexes on. He was a lovely lovely man, and we had so many laughs via PMs.
Although the family moved to Yorkshire, I believe his heart was always in Cheshire, which he proved time and time again by his ceaseless aid to those of us researching there.
Rootschat and especially the Cheshire board will never be the same again.
Peter will be muchly missed. I, among many others, will feel his loss greatly, not only for his expertise, but for his kindness, help and warmth. I shall miss him as though he was a member of my own family
When I am stuck in the future, it will be a case of 'Come on Peter, give me a shove in the right direction' for I'm sure he will still be there to give us a helping hand.
Love and Hugs to his dear family.
A Poem for Peter ~~~
Sweet Cheshire
Sweet Cheshire, land of meadows and of mere
Of lowing kine and waters clear
of thickets misty in a bluebell haze
and hedgerows with the white thorn all ablaze
Where clamouring geese, high poised on pinion strong
In wedge-like squadrons, cleave their way along
Or where on moorland high the curlew call
Or where pheasant seek the copse behind the hall
Where birch and bracken vie in dark Rudheath
And Beeston frowns on smiling plains beneath
By hill or rivers, mead or sunlit moor
From Disley's heights to Hoylake's windswept shore
From Bosley Cloud to mouth of silver Dee
Beauty thy handmaid is, and waits on thee
By a poet called Illingsworth.
Farewell dear friend
Su
