Peter Strong (G 46-49).   The following edited tribute was kindly submitted by Peter’s daughter Sara Townsend. It was written and delivered at his funeral by his grandson, Michael.     “Peter was born on August 28th, 1932, in Ryton, Northumberland. His life was a tapestry woven with adventure, dedication, family, humour, love, and a very generous spirit. His early years shaped the resilient, tender and kind man all admired. For school, Peter boarded at Hexham and later St Bees School in Cumbria, where he thrived and formed memories that he would cherish and share in the later decades with his grandchildren. His school was rich with tradition and carried a special place in his heart. When I would speak to him about his schooling years, he would tell of the hymns that they sang and the incredible peace that he would experience as he worshipped. In his later years, to his delight, he was able to go back and visit St Bees with his daughter Sarah, and even visit his old family home there.
	At just 18 he joined the RAF and served his country with pride, stationed in both Egypt and Canada. Following this, in 1957, he made the best decision of his life. He asked a wonderful young lady called Judy to marry him. The story goes that a young Peter Strong found himself smitten in love, proposing marriage just two weeks after meeting her. Truly, love at first sight. The rest was history. In 1958 they were married and began their marriage adventure overseas, flying off to Bahrain to live as part of an ex-pat community where Peter worked as an oil refinery worker. This year, on March 18th, they would have celebrated 67 beautiful years together. Remarkably, they received a congratulatory card from the Queen for their 60th anniversary and another from the King for their 65th. Probably one of the few couples in the country to receive such an honour from both monarchs. As one person said, ‘A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.’
Bahrain held special significance for Peter as it was where both Nick and Sarah were born, where his marriage was established and where he thrived. His career eventually took the family from Bahrain to Lincolnshire, where he worked at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in various roles. His work ethic and leadership were exemplary, but it was his life outside of work that truly defined him.
He loved his cars and would reminisce for hours about his Morris Minor, especially on any trip to visit the National Car Museum at Beaulieu. In his retirement, he took up golf and developed a talent for chipping and putting – showing his eye for detail and honing skills to a tee! Golf, along with the connections developed through Judy’s membership with the International Ladies, was where so many of his deep relationships were formed. Practical by nature, detailed in orientation, his generosity of spirit, creativity and dedication were always in service to the ones he loved. He truly was someone who drew people together. He was gregarious, always ready with a joke, never taking himself too seriously. One of his stand out decisions that I will fondly remember him by, is that he would never be seen to turn down a nice glass of red wine; whether it was wine over dinner, or a late night whiskey together, for Peter, drinks were simply an opportunity for precious moments. And many precious moments did we have. Even in hospital on his final days, he made the nurses laugh, requesting a glass of wine instead of water to wash down his meal.
	Peter Strong - From the 1948 Whole School Photo
Peter's life is a testament to love, resilience, and joy. His legacy lives on in the countless memories we shared and the values he instilled in each of us. He taught us to laugh at our flaws, to love deeply no matter what, and to find beauty in both grand adventures and the simplest moments.” Photographs shown here include a picture of Peter and Carr Ridley (G 44-47) who was also a student at St Bees. Peter and Carr stayed close until Carr died 11 years ago. There is also a photo of Peter and Pam Rumney (OSB Sec), during a visit back to St Bees in June 2023 with his wife Judy and daughter Sarah, and her daughter Rebecca, who were over from Canada. Peter’s previous visit to the school had been in 1983 for the quatercentenary celebrations.
Peter Strong (left), Helen Ridley (middle), Carr Ridley (right)
Peter Strong Visit to school June 2023

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk