Tributes to Sidmouth Rotarian Peter

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known Sidmouth Rotarian and “wonderful” father, friend and husband, who died after a long battle with illness.

Great granddad Peter Chittenden, 79, of Claremont, could “light up a room with his giggle and sense of humour,” said his widow, Barbara.

She described the couple’s 56-year marriage as “an adventure”.

Peter died peacefully in hospital on April 5. Barbara and their two children, Helen and David, were by his bedside.

His funeral is on Monday (April 30) and a service of celebration will take place at Sidmouth Parish Church at 1.30pm.

Barbara, 76, said she has been comforted by scores of messages of support and condolence.

“Every single card has spoken of how he was a joy to know,” she said.

“Everybody loved him. He would walk into the health centre and cheer everyone up – even though he was in agony. His nurses became his friends.

“If anyone ever had a problem, he would sort it out and never wanted anything for himself.

“We were a team. I used to say I would start a sentence and he would finish it.”

Folkestone-born Peter met Barbara in Kent and the couple ran their own shop in Camberley, Surrey, for many years.

Peter joined Camberley Rotary Club in 1972.

The couple moved to Sidmouth in 1986. Peter soon joined the Rotary Club of Sidmouth and helped raise thousands of pounds for charities.

He was president of the organisation in 1988/9 and was proud to be honoured with a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International in 2003.

In his retirement, Peter taught himself the art of framing, to a high standard, and held various exhibitions in Sidmouth.

Donations can be made to Devon Air Ambulance in Peter’s memory.