Byers, Peter Nairn

October 15th, 2005 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

Peter Nairn Byers (1923 -2005)

Peter was born in Sunderland, the youngest of 5 children and joined Silver line in 1946.  He sailed with the Atlantic convoys in the 2^nd World War and spent his 21^st birthday unloading tanks in Italy. He had been due to sail on the Silver Ray that was sunk between Halifax and New York and to sail with PQ17 in a ship that was sunk with the loss of all hands. On each occasion circumstances intervened to send him elsewhere.

After the war Peter joined the Orient Line and made regular trips to Australia meeting his wife Gaye on a voyage in 1951. He joined the London Pilotage service in 1954 and retired in 1988. He had a keen interest in sport playing cricket for the Pilotage Service in the 60’s, and golf regularly from 1963 to 2004. He also maintained an ‘armchair’ interest in the fortunes of Sunderland FC.

Our thoughts are with Peter’s widow, Gaye and his three daughters Pamela, Anna and Jennifer

 

Donald McLean