People - Memories of Peter Garnett
28 November 2006 00:00Filed in: People | Peter
Garnett
Peter Garnett, holding his book 'Portrait of Wellington Heath".
Peter Garnett died in November 2006, age 76. A popular member of the community, Peter was a well-respected local historian and a former deputy head-teacher of John Masefield High School. A parish councillor since 1975, including 5 years as chairman, Peter was for 26 years secretary of the Ledbury Naturalists and Field Club. Peter served on the Wellington Heath Memorial Hall management committee for 31 years and in the 1980s was instrumental in organising Wellington Heath's Best Kept Village Campaign and was delighted to win the overall title for Herefordshire. The photo above shows Peter holding his book 'Portrait of Wellington Heath".
Peter was a leading proponent of so many Society activities. We asked members to record their memories of Peter.
Brian Speakman writes:
It was just over 30 years ago when Peter and I first met. He was a history teacher and Deputy Head of the Secondary School and our task then was to moderate CSE History projects. I had just arrived in Ledbury as Head of History at the Grammar School. My first impression was of a pleasant and gentle person who was quite justly proud of the projects of his pupils, mainly on the history of Ledbury.
A few years later the schools combined to become John Masefield High School. Peter became a Deputy Head and worked in my department. There was rarely any tension between us, we discussed amicably and came to joint decisions. I never heard him raise his voice nor show any signs of anger - quite incredible for a teacher. That lovely smile was never far away. The way in which he related to his pupils was very similar and they really respected and liked him. Not only was he listened to, but his words were accepted. Peter was very keen on visits into Ledbury and to castles and historical sites further away. He made history come alive.
Eighteen years ago my family moved into the house next door to Peter and Lorna.Should colleagues move in next door ? - it was never a problem. So began years of talking over the garden fence. As well as being a keen ornithologist, botanist and zoologist, his garden was always immaculate, in contrast to mine. His garden in many ways reflected his office, very neat and tidy, no weeds to be seen, plants in rows, work plan according to season, highly controlled bonfires. My garden is one of curves and bushes, weeds concealed and surprises everywhere. Maybe it was our very different characters that enabled us to get on so well together.
Peter had always been a friend of the church, and in his later years Peter joined Lorna at church and became a regular worshipper. In school he used to take assemblies where his themes were not religious but more akin to “the way of life”. I will always remember him telling the children that to smile at and be pleasant to each other cost nothing and could make all the difference to the day ahead - Christianity in action. While attending church bible studies he listened thoughtfully and said little, but his presence was strongly felt, though I will remember him more in the wild flower meadow in the church yard which he tended so lovingly, surrounded by the beauty of Creation.
I now have my treasured memories of a very dear friend. To go into the garden without Peter carefully tilling his earth seems strange, but in so many ways he is still there; his smile, his warmth, his love of nature, his love of family. I think of him and feel uplifted, and I will never forget the beauty of his burial in his beloved wild flower meadow.
“WIN” (Mary Winfield) writes:
I first met Lorna and Peter in 1964, when we all arrived to play tennis one evening at Ledbury County Secondary School, where Peter had arrived to take up his appointment as Deputy Head and teacher of history. I thought, “What a lovely young couple”, only to discover that they were older than I was ! Peter remained young at heart, and I think that was something that gave him such a deep understanding of his pupils and that endeared him to generations of them.
I taught with Peter from reorganisation in 1978 until his retirement from John Masefield High School in, I believe, 1991, the year that we moved onto one site. He found his perfect role as Head of the Junior Department, based at Upper Hall. With a wide catchment area, this unit of about three hundred pupils was the ideal environment for children coming into Ledbury from small country schools, enabling them to adapt to secondary education and to build their confidence. Peter ensured that this transition was both speedy and painless. Peter’s rule was a benign one: to his quiet but firm manner (he rarely needed to raise his voice), pupils responded positively. He involved them in local history projects and inspired in them a love of wildlife through the various clubs that he ran.
To his staff, he was invariably courteous and supportive, as when he soothed the fevered brow of the teacher caught in traffic whilst making the mad dash between departments, standing in with the class until one tore through the door. His sense of humour seldom failed him!
“PTG” was one of an increasingly rare breed: a gentleman in every sense of the word, respected and beloved of staff and pupils alike.
From Prue Yorke:
I worked for just three weeks as a temporary secretary for Peter when he was head of the Junior department of John Masefield High School. It was a complete change of work for me and Peter could not have been more helpful and kind. I was not very good and he was unfailingly patient, as he was towards all the pupils - and staff ! In the short time I worked for Peter it was apparent what a happy school he ran.
From Sue Harling:
Peter and I first knew Peter and Lorna Garnett when they moved to Ledbury and lived in the Churchyard at Bank House. They joined the Ledbury Round Table and Ladies Circle of which Peter and I were members. We soon became close friends. Almost as soon as Peter arrived in Ledbury he rang my father Hubert Madders (known as “Ike”) to ask if he could come to see him to talk about Old Ledbury.
My father felt privileged as Peter was prepared to put into book form in particular George Wargent’s history, as well as histories of Upper Hall, Hazle Farm and others. Peter liaised with the Herefordshire Record Office, and ensured that material was put into its safe-keeping.
From Valerie Beaumont Johnson:
I have so much enjoyed Peter Garnett’s books - my favourite is the “History of the Ledbury Grammar School”. On Society outings Peter and Lorna have made me feel so welcome.
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