Please can I have a moment of everyones time? it's about peterb

[Corpsey]

RIP Peter.

Spoke to him a few times over the years on here (under my older name) and he was a right gent.

[Jonj1611]

Nice to see so many members come and share a nice thought and memory.

[Zak33]

It was my great honour to attend peterb's Funeral today

Not only is it Armistice Day, and so the country remembers it's fallen warriors, but we said goodbye to a very well respected member of our Forum Community, who was also a Naval weapons expert, and having heard the admiralty speak ( a Commodore, no less) of his knowledge, skillset and utter devotion to the job, not a single one of you will be surprised to know that the church was packed with family, friends, colleagues and fellow church members.

I nearly held it together... I tried hard, but the Last Post on a bugle in church was the undoing of my last reserves, and as the coffin left, I was undone. The lady to my side was my hero (she'd not like to be a heroine nor a manageress , and if ever she reads this she will know th respect I place on that) and her light touch smartened me up. I thank her.

I learned of many wonderful parts of his expansive life, his travels and his devotion to his church and local coffee shop He was remembered, as he will always be, as the right bloke for so many jobs that the list was endless.
And he gave of his time... oh man did he give! His voluntary work, his dedication to everything from supporting cancer patients, to fitting quality speakers (which were utterly utilised today) in church - every part, done to perfection.


You will also be pleased to know that his family and friends have visited this very forum to read your wonderful comments and they're deeply touched. HEXUS.net was a key component on his life, and we know how much love he poured into our world, here online. And his family and friends knew.... and know.

That church audio system, clear as a bell, played "Scarborough Fair" and the Vicar explained peterb climbing the ladders with the massive things!

His closest family read A A Milnes "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard", and to my personal eternal happiness, Tolkein's "Day is ended, dim my eyes" from Bilbo Baggins' last song

And we finished with this...... I hope you enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORhV7rCRHc

Mumford and Sons - Wilder Mind

And those, I believe, were all his choices, because peterb,...dear beloved peterb... knew his end was v close and arranged the lot.

I'll stop crying later... right now, the tears are fair-placed on my cheeks.

[Jonj1611]

Wish I could have been there. Thank you for everything Peter. Never forgotten.

[Zak33]

Wish I could have been there. Thank you for everything Peter. Never forgotten.

with the love of so many wonderful people, you're right...he won't be.

[Dareos]

I dont think I can add anything that hasn't already been said, he shall be missed.

quite honestly though, how many people have we known on various forums over the years would have done for one of us what Peterb did for G8ina, speaks volumes of his character.

[Saracen999]

Well, reading Zak's post I learned a few things I didn't know, despite having spoken extensively by PM and a fair bit by phone. So we can add modesty to his lengthy list of attributes.

Talking to Peter about his health, it was clear only by reading between the lines that he knew he was close to the end. He knew, I knew, he knew I knew and not once did he directly refer to it, or show signs of feeling sorry for himself. So, resolute and optimistic, too.

Onwards and upwards indeed, Peter. I only hope I can be so stoic and cheerful when my time eventually comes .... but I have a superb example to follow.

[Zak33]

So we can add modesty to his lengthy list of attributes.

Modesty is by far the most striking component of what I learned today. And I think, perhaps, we saw another part of him here, which I also think suited him very well and I hope his family know just how many people he influenced here.

And for everyone of you who says a lovely kind thing about him, I'd guess another hundred dodn't even know this exists to join in with us.

What is clear is that I didn't know how poorly he was historically. He did keep his cards close!

[neonplanet40]

Wow. I am truly shocked to hear this. He offered so much helpful advice to my posts over the years. I had no idea he was unwell. Hexus will truly be a lesser place without him. However, he helped forge a great community that will continue on in his absence. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all here at Hexus.

[Zak33]

Wow. I am truly shocked to hear this. He offered so much helpful advice to my posts over the years. I had no idea he was unwell. Hexus will truly be a lesser place without him. However, he helped forge a great community that will continue on in his absence. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all here at Hexus.

he would be very touched by that bud. He genuinely liked helping you. I know that.

[sammyc]

What is clear is that I didn't know how poorly he was historically. He did keep his cards close!

From certain posts I took away the impression that he didn't not talk about it, but didn't talk about it either except briefly, if relevant - not hidden but not to the fore - so I took it that was the approach he would like from others.

That church audio system, clear as a bell, played "Scarborough Fair" and the Vicar explained peterb climbing the ladders with the massive things!

This is a lovely little peterb image for us who were not there thanks for your account of things. If I were a drinker I would raise a glass of something, but as it is, I have put the kettle on. Cheers all.

[Saracen999]

From certain posts I took away the impression that he didn't not talk about it, but didn't talk about it either except briefly, if relevant - not hidden but not to the fore so I took it that was the approach he would like from others. .

I think that's exactly right.

It's not that he hid it. He just didn't make a thibg of it.

He certainly made passing references to his blog, on at least several occasions, which was pretty detailed. Unfortunately, I can't remember whether he ever did that in open forums or just in the mid/admin ones. I think he did it in the open, but can't be sure.

What he never did, or certainly never that I saw, was make a fuss about it.

It wasn't that he hid his health problems, merely that he never made an issue of them and you needed to be pretty sharp to catch the hints of how serious it was, even in restricted forums.

I read his blog for quite a long time but never really referred to it as he didn't make an issue, but from that, and seeing hospital visits increase and treatment regimes .... intensifying .... I made sure to PM him when I knew he was in, etc, 'cos extended stays can be pretty tedious and any outside contacts can be valued. And we talked about various things but he was then quite open about his condition, except EVER referring to quite how serious, but even then he was very matter of fact about it - you know, this test, that result, such-and-such treatment and never, ever how it must have been making him feel. Always cheerful, always positive. That's why I keep repeating "onwards and upwards". It wasn't just what he said. It's absolutely how he was. And I miss him.

[Zak33]

Always cheerful, always positive. That's why I keep repeating "onwards and upwards". It wasn't just what he said. It's absolutely how he was. And I miss him.

me too.

Here's what happened yesterday. I needed someone to change his profile.. and I was about to PM him cos he was always the bloke to do stuff like that if I was snowed under with other things.

Wilder Mind was playing on repeat today in my car.

It all smashed into me again this am and had to pull over and straighten myself up.

[nichomach]

Sad news, and condolences to his family

[Zak33]

Saracen and I just had a proper good chin wag : I needed to explain what a wonderful funeral service it was, and how it affected me. Thanks bud... that helped me greatly.

[Zak33]

I hope that, if the family visit the forum again, they find some entertainment in these photo's that peterb shared with a few of us here long ago.

this is a long way from the UK, in the southern hemisphere and that might assist those who knew him where it was