TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated fundraiser who supported many groups and organisations in Holmes Chapel.

Former resident Peter Maslen, who moved into the village in the mid-1960s and left many years later as a prominent member of the community, has died.

The sudden death of Peter following a short illness has saddened friends in Holmes Chapel, Goostrey and surrounding villages only seven months after his wife, Sylvia, passed away.

Peter, who was born in Sheffield in 1933, left Holmes Chapel in 1988 after he retired to live at Creswell, near Stafford, close to one of his daughters, Christine and her family.

But despite an absence of so many years, he is still remembered fondly as the outgoing Yorkshireman who with Sylvia soon became actively involved in local organisations and village life and raise their family of three daughters.

“It was always said of Peter when you met him for the first time, it felt as though you had known him forever because of his engaging ways, boyish smile and twinkle of his eye,” a friend recalled.

“He and Sylvia did a lot of work for the village and were missed when they left by the many friends they had made over the years.”

Peter and Sylvia lived in Alumbrook Avenue and were active members of St Luke’s Church and supported many charities and fundraising functions in the village, including primary school events, sports days, rose queen fetes and the annual Christmas Santa sleigh run.

He was also an enthusiastic supporter of Holmes Chapel Scouts and for some years helped to run the group with Walter Benson and Jim Gormley as well as taking on the roles of President and Past-President of the local Rotary Club.

Peter was a founder member of the now-disbanded Holmes Chapel and District Round Table, serving as chairman in 1972-73, and afterwards joined the organisation’s 41 Club in which he was also chairman in 1979-80 and President in 1993-94.

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Like many of his generation, Peter’s childhood was disrupted by World War 11 and when Sheffield’s steel industry was targeted in the German bombing raids, he was evacuated to a safe area on the Lancashire side of the Pennines.

However, wartime did not prevent an ambitious youngster from pursuing a career in industry.

When he left school he trained to become a draughtsman before taking his City and Guilds and qualifying as a heating and ventilation engineer and in Holmes Chapel, he ran his own business for many years.

Peter was called up to do his two-year stint of National Service and he was able to join the Royal Navy and served as a coder at Helensburgh in Scotland.

His youngest daughter, Helen Wakefield who has returned to live in Holmes Chapel said: “They (Peter and Sylvia) had many friends in the village and dad always talked about how much he loved his time here.

"We have recently moved back after 30 years and he was looking forward to coming to visit once the coronavirus lockdown is over to get to know the village again and look up old friends.”

Peter leaves three daughters, Christine, Elizabeth and Helen, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held on Monday, May 17, at 1 pm at Stafford Crematorium but attendance is likely to be affected by Covid-19 regulations in force at the time.

A service in memory of Peter and Sylvia is hoped to be arranged by the family later this year.