from the Scouting perspective by David Sturdee (given at his memorial service)

In 1972, with a full-page spread in Octavi,  the 8th Norwich magazine, one of our Venture Scouts offered a reward of £5,000 to anyone who could get a straight answer from Peter. I can tell you now that the reward has not been claimed by anyone!

I first met Peter in 1969 when I was appointed to the staff at Norwich School. I could never get from him a date of when he started his adult leadership in Scouting – it seems to have just merged out of his membership as a youngster more than 10 years beforehand, and his commitment to the 8th Norwich carried on from then.

In recent years he has obviously been less of a front-line helper, but to the present day he always insisted on keeping his contact with the children.

His Scouting heyday was before society demanded written risk assessments for going through the front door, before so much law by litigation, before it had seemed that children were only allowed out under the direct supervision and control of adults, before mobile phones were more than an absurdity in James Bond films.

Reprimand, punishment, sanctions, were words that did not exist in his mindset. His focus was very much on them learning skills for the great outdoors. He had absolute trust in them. And how effective he was in particular in supporting and relating to members who displayed less confidence.

Here are a few extracts from the many comments we have received from former members:

  • Pete was a constant and reassuring presence throughout my years as a Cub Scout and then a Sea Scout. He was always a very calm, kind and gentle leader, with endless reserves of patience. I don’t think I ever heard him raise his voice, but he always commanded total respect from all of us.
  • Pete, Peter, POG, Grover, Grovedale – just to use some of the many names we used to call him over the years, was so instrumental in shaping the person I became and for that I will be forever grateful.
  • He was a close family friend over the years, and my Godfather. He was an inspirational leader to me in Scouts, supporting me as the only girl in the 8th Norwich at the time.
  • I loved my time in the Sea Scouts during which Peter and the other leaders taught me so much, from sailing to self-reliance, and canoeing to cooking. I hold many fond memories of summer camps all over the UK, Easter cruises on the Broads, canoeing trips and weekly troop meetings. These experiences and Peter’s influence had a direct and significant impact on forming the man I am today.
  • The 8th Norwich was really responsible for my choice of career which took me into the Merchant Navy and the rank of Master Mariner and ultimately into senior management.

    Before I joined the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts, I was always going to be a vet. Boy, did I make the better choice?

    Rest in peace POG

And the last of my quotations:

  • There is no doubt that Peter was responsible for the vast majority of my very happiest and most formative childhood moments as an 8th Norwich Cub, Scout and Venture Scout back in the 90s.

    An absolute inspiration and a truly great man.

As well as his unchallenged contribution to the 8th, he ran the District Swimming Gala and the County Seamanship Challenge for many years. Those were planned and run with great attention to detail.

And under his organisation our own swimming team won the Royal Navy Swimming Championships for Scouts at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall five years in succession. Popping down to Cornwall by train or minibus for a weekend was just something one did.

Year in, year out, he ran or supported weekend camps, typically at Decoy Broad. He took teams to copious local and national events.

Using the expertise and support of Roy Lemon – an ultra-fit ex-SAS leader in our team  – he introduced hill walking and mountain craft to the Group, and himself became really very proficient at micro-navigation.

Lots of us will remember Peter with affection, for lots of incidents. Here’s one: his heavily-laden minibus going down into Dittisham where he got the passenger, a Scout, to get out – whilst still just moving – and run ahead to warn approaching traffic round the bend at the bottom of the hill that he could not slow down anymore, let alone stop!

I remember arriving at camp once when, in the torrential rain and in full oilskins, Peter was standing in the middle of the road ready to direct the advance party to the campsite. He had a pint of beer in this hand and a big, welcoming smile.

So often late and disorganised, he told me very firmly that the kids did not want a highly organised and disciplined world. I think he probably got that right.

Somehow I can imagine Peter now, looking down on us all, and if asked to comment on the occasion would give his usual carefully considered response: “Oh!”

I think the 8th Norwich, which continues to be so highly successful, might well have collapsed if he had not kept it alive pretty well singlehandedly from time to time.

His Silver Wolf – the top award of the Scout Association – and his MBE – were most deserved.

Peter’s life was certainly one we should celebrate.