MANY friends assembled at Birtsmorton Church last Wednesday to remember and play tribute to a quiet country gentleman with twinkling blue eyes and a mischievous laugh, who valued the old country ways so much. Bill Peters had lived in the village all of his life, arriving at the age of three weeks old. Bill attended the local school where he met and palled up with a young lad called Charlie Allsopp. This friendship flourished for over 70 years, both of these lads sharing the same interests with a love of gardening and country pursuits.

Life was tough for a young lad and Bill had more than his fair share of chores, but never complained, just got on with it. After leaving school Bill worked in a local nursery helping to grow tomatoes, from here he moved on and became gardener at the Abbey School, with its closure then moving on to the Earls Cottage.

Bill was a mine of local information of the people, the church and the country ways, but no persuasion on my part or anyone else could persuade him to write down any of his local knowledge or even put it on tape. Sometimes he could be stubborn, but if he said no, you didn't argue, such was the man and the respect you had for him.

Bill had travelled to many countries and, looking in his photo albums at group photographs, obviously enjoyed himself. Locally he regularly attended the Three Counties Show, Spring Garden Show and the Steam Rally, and was eagerly looking forward to his planned holiday to the Isle of Wight.

Bill was into wine making, using any surplus fruit and vegetables to hand or off the hedgerow. Waste not, want not, was how he was brought up by his dear mum. This famous brew was quite heady stuff and I am proud to still own a few bottles that I will drink at some point in the future in his memory, when the occasion is right.

Bill gave so much of his time and energy to Birtsmorton Church. He was a churchwarden for over 30 years, having great difficulty raising sufficient funds to pay the bills. I know, quite often, he dipped into his own pocket.

Although he retired as churchwarden and long serving member of Birtsmorton PCC he was 100 per cent supportive of all fundraising events, helping in any way he could.

Bill was a loyal and longest serving member of our church and a wonderful friend and colleague, the likes of which we will never see again.

Bill's greatest fear was hospital and doctors and he would become very agitated at the mere thought of an appointment looming on the horizon. He just wanted to be at home, three weeks ago Bill got his wish and died peaceful and suddenly in the home that he loved so much.

We will miss this country gentleman (old blue eyes) who was small in stature but who filled such a huge part of our community for so long. Thank you Bill, you certainly did it your way.