I decided to post this story of my meeting up with Barbara and Peter a year ago:
"I am so glad that I was able to meet him and the story of how it all came about is a lovely one.
Before last year my last visit to Brum was in 2004. I came to visit friends and family and to attend the Centenary Reunion for Fentham Girls School. I had a nightmare entry into London Airport since someone else claimed my suitcase containing the 380 programmes for the Reunion which my husband had designed and we printed at home. I was lucky to get the suitcase back but not for a couple of very anxious hours. I then took the train to Brum and couldn't get the door open at B'Ham International where I was to meet my brother. The train only stopped for a couple of minutes. I arrived at New St. phoned my brother who came and picked me up.
I posted a small synopsis of this unfortunate saga on the Forum back then and Peter must have read it and remembered.
I mentioned on the Forum last year that I was coming to England and visiting Brum. Out of the blue I received an instant message from Peter inviting me to stay with Barbara and himself in Croydon and hopefully have a better entry into England than the last time. Peter grew up for part of his early life in Kingstanding and knew the area where I grew up very well. I had not met him but I had read all his amazing contributions to the Forum. I accepted his kind offer and phoned him when I arrived at Gatwick. Peter had filled me in about the cheaper train fares and we arranged to meet at East Croydon Station. Peter and Barbara live in a lovely area quite close to the Station with a pub across the way called The Cricketers Arms where Peter was a popular customer. They had lived there for 40 years. I had never seen a home with so many books and art in it. Peter had printed out several old maps of Brum which he gave to me.
I had a very comfortable room and that evening after a rest Peter took me on a tour of Croydon's historical buildings. I believe he had sat on Committees re the area of East Croydon over the years after he moved there from Brum.
Peter and Barbara asked me where I wanted to go for a day out in London and I decided to go to Greenwich, a place I had never visited. So off we went and we had a great day visiting Greenwich, going into the Chapel where a quarter was playing a Lunchtime concert. Then across to the Painted Hall something I will never forget seeing. Walking by the Thames, crossing London Bridge, having a lovely lunch at a riverside pub. Peter had invited me to attend a piano concert that evening at St. George's Church in Hanover Square. Barbara went home and off we went to attend the concert. St. George's was Handel's Church for 30 years and he lived around the corner. Peter took me to where Handel had lived. The concert was totally amazing and I met some super people. It was an amazing evening in a beautiful church and I could hardly believe my good luck. On my last day in London I went back and took some pictures of this fine old Church where several famous people have been married including President Roosevelt before he became USA President.
https://www.stgeorgeshanoversquare.org/ We arrived home very late and talked into the night about Brum and our memories. The next day Peter came with me to St. Pancras and pulled my suitcase around to Euston Station to board the train to Brum. Peter came up to Brum later to attend the meet we had at the Warstone Lane Cemetery for BHF and took me on a tour of the canal off Newhall Steet on the way to New Street Station.
I had to come back to London a couple of days before I flew back to Canada to get some paperwork
certified at the Canadian Immigration Office in Mayfair and Peter invited me once again to stay with them. Tom. Peter's son came around and we all had a great chat. Barbara, who is a superb cook made me a very special dinner for my last night and Peter accompanied me to the station so I could catch my train to Gatwick. I will never forget their kindness to me and the wonderful time I had in Croydon and the very special day out in London with them.
Barbara, who has a heart condition and has to take care, keeps herself busy and is involved with her church...the German church. She has many friends there and I know they will be close to her at this time as will her sons and their families. I bought Barbara and Peter some Native Indian art from Vancouver and sent them some more on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. My last contact with Peter was a lovely e-mail thanking me for this surprise gift. Peter will be sorely missed in so many ways I know I miss him already.