Henry Peter Mason Lawrence 1925 – 2012

October 25th, 2012 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

Members of the Cinque Ports Pilot’s Association, his family and his many friends were saddened by the recent loss of highly respected colleague Peter Lawrence. He died on the 24^th May 2012 aged 87 with his funeral being held at St Peters’ church, Bridge, Kent; where he had served well on the Parish County Council and as Church Warden.

Born in Ilford on the 2^nd June 1925 he was always called Peter to avoid confusion with his father Henry, a Master Mariner. Destined for a life at sea, Peter joined HMS Conway in 1940 some 28 years after his father and he was on board when she was moved away from the bombing of Liverpool to the shelter of Anglesey.

The Second War was at its height and the battle of the North Atlantic ferocious when Peter began his career with Shaw, Savill and Albion line. Appointed to an Armed Merchant Cruiser manned by the Company, Peter was to spend his first sea going years escorting convoys on the long and dangerous voyages between the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South America.  He remained with the Company serving in the Empire Waimana, the Mataroa and Akaroa gaining his Foreign Going Master’s certificate and marrying his first wife Sheila; before joining Trinity House as a Licensed London District Cinque Ports Pilot in 1960. Sadly he was to loose Sheila through illness but in 1965 he married his second wife Isobel and took on a young family. He was by all accounts an ideal father to his three step children who fondly recall the many happy holidays spent on the Norfolk Broads and other exciting places.

Peter’s life was one of service – to family, his colleagues as CPP’s Representative, the community as a Parish Councillor and his Church as a PCC Member and Church Warden. A Mason, he was a member of The Nautical Institute and elected a Younger Brother of Trinity House in 1978.

Peter sadly lost his devoted Isobel in 2006 but he continued to fulfil his commitments until his ill health got the better of him. He is survived by three step children and 7 grandchildren.

Peter Russell (London &Cinque Ports Retd.)