Peter Nurse (4 Feb 1930 - 20 Nov 2023)

In loving memory of Peter Nurse who sadly passed away on 20th November 2023.

Peter - a short summary of his life
Born 4th February 1930
Died 20th November 2023
Peter entered the world in Ilford, Essex. He was an only child to Muriel and Alec, both of whom were teachers. They were in their thirties when Peter came along, and he always maintained that his parents were very much a couple who were busy with their lives and work, and he attributed to his own strong independent streak to this. Peter described having had a happy childhood and recalled many a happy memory of trips to France his parents. In 1939, war broke out and he was evacuated along with his father’s school to Cumnor in Oxfordshire. Peter was aged 9 at the time and he often said that, although it was hard work for his parents, especially his mum, the family did manage to make the best of a bad situation. They found a house to stay, and his grandma and aunt came up to stay with them, mostly to look after Peter whilst his parents worked. His father used to teach half days and his mum went off to do nursing initially and then afterwards worked in an armament factory. Peter spoke fondly of his time in the countryside and recounted many a tale of the family enjoying bike rides around the area.

At age 12 Peter found work on a farm which he said he thoroughly enjoyed. He recounted putting brass and tac on horses and would go out into the fields with the older farm hands. Peter said he used to climb up on top of the hay bales and stacked them as they were thrown up. He said he would then enjoy jumping off the these and onto the back of horses standing below. He said he could have quite easily forged a life in farming but said his parents had different plans for him. Peter later found a part time job in a local garage, by which time he was going to school in Oxford, and one did one day a week at the day school at Magdalen College. He enjoyed the village life and had quickly made friends with the locals.

After the war, Peter’s parents returned to Ilford, but he stayed on until he had completed his high school qualifications at 16. He then returned home to Ilford. Peter said his father had wanted him to go onto further education, but much to his father’s dismay, Peter had different ideas, and true to his aquarian nature, he decided to finish school. He secured a job as an apprentice engineer at a local factory in the East End of London. During this time, he was called up for his National Service, and spent this in the RAF. He related that he had thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and she he had learned most of his driving skills there. In fact, he said he was the only one there who had a driving licence!!

Peter then went back to the East End and secured a position as a project engineer at McDougall’s in the Isle of Dogs where he stayed until he was moved up to the office in Middlewich in Cheshire in around 1980. By this time, the company had merged to become Rank Hovis McDougall (RHM) where he worked until his retirement. Peter took the job ‘up north’ as he had been paying into his pension for so long that it made sense for him to make the move. Peter had always said he had no desire to move into management, which probably wasn’t a bad decision.

By this time, Peter had married Maureen in the mid 1960’s and he, Maureen and their dog Sam forged a happy life today. Married life took them to Tewin in Hertfordshire and again, Peter thrived on taking part in village life. As a hobby, he became a set designer for the local amateur dramatics group. From Tewin, he, Maureen and Sam the dachshund moved to Biddulph and Peter commuted daily from there to Middlewich for work.

Peter’s job took him out of the office many times and travelled most of Europe during his time there. He recounted many a tale from places such as Germany, particularly enjoying his rides in BMWs down the Autobahn, as well as good food!

In the early 1960’s Peter started to develop a love of cars. Peter spoke of going on hill climbs and rallies, where he met Stirling Moss several times. Peter used to Marshall the rallies and map read for drivers. Peter said he was one of the first to buy the new Mini’s and told how he loved driving around Italy in it on his holidays. He said it caused quite a stir with the Italians! Peter’s love of cars and driving never left him and he was driving right up until his last day.

Peter and Maureen were never blessed with children and sadly Maureen died in 1986 of cancer, aged 56. Peter spoke of this time as being one of misery and that he threw himself into his work and pursuit of a hobby at the local shooting range. Peter eventually went on to taking up clay pigeon shooting with his next-door neighbour Roy Gater. Peter and Roy went off every Sunday morning to the local clay shoot and this kept Peter occupied for some years thereafter. In the later years he took great pleasure in taking Annie with him. Peter had strong opinions on shooting and had always maintained that if done correctly, there was no harm in shooting, as long as you joined a well-run gun club and were responsible.

Reading was another of Peter’s great loves and this was inherited from his mother – who always ensured that the library was well stocked at home. He said she used to read older children’s books to him when he was five. When Peter lost a lot of his mobility in later years, reading became ever more important and he could lose himself in a book for hours at a time. In fact, it was a point of humour within the family that Peter had a book up his sleeve for most things that were discussed, and he would say “hold on a minute, let me find that book”. Peter also kept a keen eye on the news and events, reading European Newspapers and The Times, the latter mainly for the crosswords. Peter maintained an interest in current affairs until the end and we often enjoyed debates on emerging topics.

July 1987 saw Peter’s life change dramatically. Following Maureen’s death, Peter had been encouraged to attend social meetings arranged by the MacMillan hospice. Around the same time, Alison’s husband Gordon had died from cancer, and she too had been encouraged to attend the meetings. As both widowers lived in Biddulph, it was suggested that they share a car ride to the meetings to save on petrol. Peter arrived at 33 Grange Road to drive Alison to the meeting and was greeted by Bonnie, (Alison and the girls’ border collie) who duly gave Peter a huge smile. Although a lover of dogs, Peter often recalled that he was never sure whether it was a smile or whether she was snarling at him! He came to learn however that it was her unique way of showing her affection. (Peter developed a love of Border Collie’s after this). The MacMillan meeting opened the ‘Peter, Alison and family chapter’ and they married in January 1988. Peter often referred to the fact that it didn’t quite dawn on him that as well as taking on Alison, he was also taking on two teenagers, (one of whom had a boyfriend of many changing hairstyles, the other which had a bedroom ceiling to floor of Madonna posters and who wore rags in her hair), and of course the dog with a dodgy smile.

Peter again however thrived in his new roles as husband and stepdad and showed energy, warmth, and a strong desire to get things done. He was clever (sometimes annoyingly so), but truthful and innovative, and a great problem solver. He worked hard to provide for his family and supported them whenever and wherever possible.

Peter and Alison went on to enjoy 35 years of married life which took them from Biddulph, to France, to Norfolk, and then finally to Rotherham. They chose the latter to be closer to Annie, Andy and their girls who lived in Sheffield and they both settled into an apartment at Kingsgate, again enjoying being amongst others and sharing a friendly chat here and there. They had very varied and enjoyable experiences through the years – at one point turning their house into a successful bed and breakfast; working at the Biddulph Grange Gardens as volunteers; learning and speaking French; doing agility classes with their beloved dog Megan both in the UK and in France, and travelling in their 4x4 around Australia, and recounting tales of camping in the outback. Peter masterminded many travels around France, Spain, and Australia, the latter to coincide with seeing Karen, Ken and their children who lived in Perth. Only just a week before Peter passed away, he had been reminiscing and had been showing Sofia and Sienna pictures of he and Alison’s travels and had been recounting tales of happy times passed. Despite feeling the effects of old age, Peter still managed to find the energy and interest to care for and please others.

Peter found the last few years special in seeing the two girls mature and grow, finding employment, forging lives of their own, and him gaining five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Peter enjoyed his family and cherished the time that he spent with them.

But as this chapter has now come to an end, we want you to know Peter that you have left an everlasting imprint on our lives and your memory will live on for as long as we are of this world.

So, as you start your final journey, we’ll smile through the pain, for we know it’s not “Goodbye”, it’s “Until we meet again.”