Deacon Peter Bravey

“The Lord is my Shepherd therefore I shall lack nothing”
Deacon Peter died peacefully at home on Monday  30th of March aged 85 years. The beloved husband of Margaret, dearest father of Andrew and Ian also a cherished grandad to Rhianne, Fred, William, Katie and Marcus. Though Peter has been unwell for some time,
his death has been Felt deeply by the parish of Saint Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception Crewe. Peter  was born on Wednesday the 31st of October 1934 in Birkenhead. He went to Our Lady’s School in Birkenhead also he went to Saint Peter and Saint Paul New Brighton, and Wallasey art school, making good friends there. His family moved many times during World War two as their houses were being bombed out Regularly, eventually settling in New Brighton. In his teenage years he worked as a lifeguard at new Brighton Beach receiving a medal for saving someone’s life, also as a summer job working on the Mersey Ferry boat between Pier head and Seacombe.
He also worked as a scene painter for an operatic Society.
Peter and Margaret met at Crewe grammar school old  students operatic Society, he was a singer and Margaret (his wife to be) was a dancer he then joined the Crewe  and district male voice choir when he found out that Margaret was the pianist.They got engaged and married in Saint Mary‘s  Catholic Church Crewe on Saturday  20th of December 1958, with little money those days, the honeymoon was a few nights away in London. Andrew was born in 1963 and Ian in May 1964 they were living in Nantwich before moving to Crewe to the home they have shared since 1969. Peter and Margaret were both teachers, Peter working at the newly built technical college in dane bank avenue, as an all art and pottery teacher. The family enjoyed camping and caravanning in places where they could explore, they have been all over Europe, one of their favourite places  being Provence and the Dordogne.  In England they enjoyed Northumberland especially the village of Cranter and nearby Dunstanburgh Castle. he enjoyed a long career in art and pottery, but health problems in the early 80s with numerous operation meant he took early retirement in 1984 and was all
Prepared for a much quieter life, but that wasn’t to be as God had already marked Peter out for a different path, with the support of his loving wife Margaret and family Peter found a new challenge and a love for the
Diaconate, after some years of training Peter was ordained as a deacon in July 1999. His caring compassionate traits made him the perfect person to help steer the course of Saint Mary’s with the parish priests. His support for the parish priest’s  and the community was evident for all to see.The family have been supported through his illness by the valley care company, Maria Dickinson and district nurses. The NHS at Leighton Hospital, St Luke’s Hospice all the people of Saint Mary‘s parish, especially the SVP, Bishop Mark and all the deacons of the surrounding parishes. Peter’s legacy will be his  love of his family, of his parish and of God. Peter was a great story Teller but the story of his life was of a person that made an ordinary life extraordinary. In his latter months of life Peter Carried his cross bravely, his family have an ocean of memories to look back on. Peter will be remembered in the parish in many different ways for his gentle words of support, his  appreciation of scripture, his homilies and his lovely sense of humour. Although there will be a simple graveside service for the time being, a full celebration of his life Will be held later in his parish church for the life of Deacon Peter Frederick Bravey thanks be  to God.