Peter Anthony Hill - 1942 - 2025
From the Parish News – May 2025.
Peter was born in Newton Green, Birmingham, in March 1942. The only child of older parents, he had a fairly solitary and lonely childhood, something which he later felt made him socially awkward. Left a great deal to his own devices, he developed a keen interest in and deep connection with nature, becoming exceptionally knowledgeable about all aspects of plants and wildlife. He was a twitcher; once, aged only 16, he took himself off on the train from Sidmouth to Great Yarmouth to see the first collared dove spotted in the UK. This interest in ornithology became a lifelong passion, which he shared with his equally keen teenage ‘birder’ friend, Bill Oddie.
Although he was keen to study Zoology at university Peter’s parents would not allow this, so he qualified on the job as a quantity surveyor, initially in Exeter and then in Bristol. His first job was with Somerset County Council where he was taken under the wing of older colleague Pat Hitchcock, later to be his best man. Pat and his family were very good to Peter, and he credited them with turning him from an awkward youth into a mature young professional.
Peter joined the Southwest Road Construction Unit for the building of the Buckfastleigh bypass. He found lodgings with Bridget’s aunt, spending much of his leisure time restoring an MGB. Bridget had been training as a nurse, but an accident forced her to give this up. At a bit of a loose end, she went with her mother to visit her aunt and the rest, as they say, is history! In 1972 Peter and Bridget were married in Staplegrove, near Taunton. Daughter Fiona arrived in 1974, followed four years later by Anthony.
Work for Peter took a very exciting turn. By 1976 the Buckfastleigh bypass was completed, and he joined the contracts and tendering department of George Wimpey International. The next ten years took him all over the world as his employers tendered for contracts in exotic locations such as Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, the USA and the post-war Falkland Islands. Peter was in China during 1982, where a celebration held in honour of his 40th birthday included a great delicacy – black sea slugs. Good manners forced him to force them down, only to find to his dismay that, as he had so obviously enjoyed them, his colleagues gave him theirs!
In 1986 a new job as claims consultant with Trett Contract Services brought the family to Oak Lodge, Denton. Then in 1992, building on all his years of experience, Peter started his own business, consulting for construction companies including George Wimpey and Trett. On his own initiative, and whilst working full time, Peter trained to become an adjudicator and arbitrator for construction companies. His final job before a well-earned retirement was in Trinidad & Tobago, where he was joined by Bridget for the holiday of a lifetime!
In addition to his own busy career, Peter found the time and energy to help Bridget, Fiona and Anthony set up and run their Classic Carriages business. He was also fully involved in village life, joining the bowls club and the parish and church councils. Never completely at ease in purely social situations, Peter liked to get to know people through working together. He brought professional skills and project management experience to several initiatives such as the church kitchen, the playground upgrade and Denton’s successful entry in the Calor Village of the Year Competition.
Bridget has received many kind messages, for which she is extremely grateful. Friends and colleagues have captured him perfectly with the following words which, I am sure, those who knew him would heartily endorse.
Peter Hill – fair, forensic, forthright, driven, determined. Missed by many.