Al Thomas
09-06 2020 15:10
wrote:
I had the pleasure of not only working with Pete, but being his friend too. We go back to September 1983 when we met at graduate recruitment for Lucas Engineering based in Gillingham. Charlie, Pete and I hit it off right from the start and we have remained friends ever since. We rented houses together and have had great times in Magpie Hall Road, Coppice Road and finally when Pete and I bought a house together in Wouldham, just round the corner from Charlie. Many great times were had in the Waterman’s Arms and not so great hangovers afterwards!
Pete also introduced us to The Cottage, a Gillespie family retreat near Dundee which saw us racing up the A68 every late May bank holiday and having gloriously silly weekends, drinking, walking, chopping wood, and visiting the local pubs for pool, ’80 shilling’ beer and delicious steak ’n’ ale pies. All were welcome and we met his great bothers there who just added to the revelry.
I had the fortune to work work with and for Pete pretty much my whole career, in fact I started my first job at Lucas, and retired from my last at Fidelity, sitting next to him. We both qualified as engineers but quickly saw the light and switched to computing early on and we both progressed through support, project management and whereas I moved in to information security, Pete progressed on to senior leadership but we still remained firm friends throughout, discussing, resolving and laughing our way through the hectic Fidelity days.
I shall miss his leadership, fairness, integrity and honesty but above all his friendship that he showed to all he met. He was taken long before his time and I am reminded of the saying : “The light that burns twice as bright, burns but half as long”. Farewell Pete, rest in peace my friend.
Al Thomas
09-06 2020 15:10
wrote:
I had the pleasure of not only working with Pete, but being his friend too. We go back to September 1983 when we met at graduate recruitment for Lucas Engineering based in Gillingham. Charlie, Pete and I hit it off right from the start and we have remained friends ever since. We rented houses together and have had great times in Magpie Hall Road, Coppice Road and finally when Pete and I bought a house together in Wouldham, just round the corner from Charlie. Many great times were had in the Waterman’s Arms and not so great hangovers afterwards!
Pete also introduced us to The Cottage, a Gillespie family retreat near Dundee which saw us racing up the A68 every late May bank holiday and having gloriously silly weekends, drinking, walking, chopping wood, and visiting the local pubs for pool, ’80 shilling’ beer and delicious steak ’n’ ale pies. All were welcome and we met his great bothers there who just added to the revelry.
I had the fortune to work work with and for Pete pretty much my whole career, in fact I started my first job at Lucas, and retired from my last at Fidelity, sitting next to him. We both qualified as engineers but quickly saw the light and switched to computing early on and we both progressed through support, project management and whereas I moved in to information security, Pete progressed on to senior leadership but we still remained firm friends throughout, discussing, resolving and laughing our way through the hectic Fidelity days.
I shall miss his leadership, fairness, integrity and honesty but above all his friendship that he showed to all he met. He was taken long before his time and I am reminded of the saying : “The light that burns twice as bright, burns but half as long”. Farewell Pete, rest in peace my friend.
