Pete Granger (1947-2015)

Charles Peter David Granger (Peter as he has always been known) was born in Kingsbury, Wembley on 2nd November 1947.  His father was a salesman for Brand/Cerebos and because of this the family moved around the country quite a lot. They went to Ruislip in 1948 where his brother Roger was born, then on to Guildford in 1952 where Peter started school.  Two years later they went to Malvern and two years after that came another move to Wallington.  It was here that his father became redundant and they moved to Hereford where he had employment with Goodwins.  In 1962, whilst Peter was still in his teens, his father was made redundant a second time, when Goodwins merged with Lincan, and took a complete change of career by becoming the landlord of a village pub called “The Five Bridges”.

In 1964, Peter joined R.E.M.E, which was the start of a career lasting 31 years working on different types of helicopter, mostly at Army Air Corps Centre in Middle Wallop.

He met and married Gill in the late 1960’s and their first posting together was to 71Aircraft Workshops in 1970 in Detmold, Germany. He completed his Artificers course in Middle Wallop in 1972 and their son Nicholas was born that year. Peter completed a commando Course in Plymouth shortly afterwards before returning to Germany to serve in Detmold and then Bunde, where their daughter Carolyn was born in 1976.

In 1981, Pete joined the Cerro Galan Caldera expedition. This was to explore a remote extinct volcano in North East Argentina, working at 12,000 feet for 6 weeks.  All the preparation was centered in Aldershot. The object of the exercise was to help and support a multinational team of scientists, support was also provided by the Argentinian Army (this was just a few months before the war broke out over the Falklands).  The whole expedition was supported by REME and the Open University.

In 1984, there was a three-year posting to Brunei in Borneo. Pete was on “loan service” to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and wore the uniform of the Sultans Army. The living quarters were bungalows on the outskirts of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.  He and a friend purchased a motor boat and the family spent many weekends and holidays enjoying the climate, golden sands and warm sea of the uninhabited islands off shore. Pete continued his hobbies of cricket and golf and the local hobby of hashing (running through the jungle). That was his last overseas posting and Pete was awarded the “Long Service & Good Conduct” medal when he retired from the Armed Forces as WO1 on 1st September 1995.

After the family moved into Fairpiece, Wherwell, Pete became Secretary of the Village Hall committee, and he and the team spent a lot of time modernizing and refurbishing the hall. He also joined the Home Guard Club where he enjoyed a short term on the committee, but was often seen helping behind the bar and playing snooker. Post retirement, Pete joined the Civil Service and continued to work at Middle Wallop until final retirement in 2009. Then followed holidays abroad, a three-month round-the-world trip in 2011, and trips in a motor home to France, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro, Poland etc.

In February 2015 he became ill and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Sadly, major brain surgery in March and intensive Radiotherapy treatment in May and June, failed to halt the progress of what had been diagnosed as a very aggressive tumour.  Pete returned home from hospital in August, where he was cared for by Gill until he passed away on 21st November 2015. Pete’s funeral, in Wherwell Church on 9^th December, was attended by 196 mourners. He leaves behind, his wife Gill, children Nick and Carolyn and grandchildren, Josh, Tilly, Felix and Jago.