Peter Packwood-Brown

“As long as we live, he too will live. For he is now a part of us, as we remember him.”

Peter was born on 6th December 1935 in Balsall Common, near Coventry. His Parents were Bill and Lillian Brown and Peter had a younger brother called Bob.

Peter went to Balsall Street Secondary Modern and attended St Peters Church, Balsall Common and he was active in both school and church choirs singing many solos. The Vicar used to take Peter around many of the Children’s Homes around Coventry to sing songs to the staff and children. From school, Peter completed an Apprenticeship at the Standard Motor Company and played rugby for the Factory team as a winger which ignited his love for rugby.

He also was active in athletics and his 4 x 400mtr relay team held the County record for many years. Peter was called up for National Service at the age of 21 years and went into the REME/Army Air Corps serving in Malaysia for 2 years. After, National Service Peter took on a variety of Sales roles and met his wife Myra and eventually had two sons Martin and Andrew. They moved from Coventry in 1968 to Bunbury, Cheshire as Peter was then Sales Manager of Basil Williams Engineering in Tarporley.

Peter was very active in Bunbury with the Parish Council, Bunbury British Legion, Bunbury Playing Fields Committee and he was Manager of Bunbury FC for a couple of years despite not knowing anything about football and wanting the players to pick up the ball and run with it!

Peter set up his own business and had spells of some years working in the Middle East and London, finally returning to set up Tarporley Travel and a recruitment company for roles in the Middle East. Peter finally finished his working career in 2000 as Sales Manager for Brendon International having worked with his two sons for nearly 15 years. He made a significant contribution to Brendon International gaining some fantastic clients and he was fondly regarded by many customers as Captain Mainwaring which he absolutely loved.

During this period he had already become Chairman of Crewe and Nantwich Rugby club to which he was devoted and his proudest moment was when the Team played at Twickenham in a National Cup Final. He was Chairman for 16 years and responsible for the moving of the club to Crewe Vagrants and the purchasing of the new pitches. He loved his rugby, he loved watching Martin and I play and then his Grandson, Michael and I am sure he would have loved to see Jack playing at Crewe and Nantwich had his health been better. Peter also went on the famous British Lions tour to New Zealand after his retirement in about 2000 but unfortunately they lost every game.

Peter met his devoted partner Delphine in the 1990s and they enjoyed many good times and happy holidays together until relatively recently.

Peter was fortunate to have 2 wonderful daughter in laws Donna and Sue, 4 grand children Amanda, Georgina, Rebecca and Michael and now two Great-grand children Jack and Edward.

Peter was a character and Captain Mainwaring is probably the best analogy. He would mix concrete in a shirt, tie and a jacket and was very particular about his appearance. However, he would always have a word for someone, do a good deed or help someone in need.

He was no angel though and did have a naughty side to him. He would often berate young players for their antics about town but after one incident in Tarporley which involved half the 1st team in high jinks, a ban was threatened. However, Peter was eventually welcomed by the young players into their “Gang” with open arms after he was too banned from the Crown in Nantwich a few weeks later when he caused some interesting incidents in the hotel late on our wedding night and had his camera confiscated to boot!

Peter was a great family man, loved and respected and he left a mark on those that had the privilege to know him.

The family would especially like to thank both Elm House, Nantwich and Hollymere House, Haslington for their fantastic love and outstanding care for him over the last 4 years and also thank you to everyone for their kind messages of support. Finally, I would like to thank Joseph O’Connell Funeral Services for their support and professionalism at this difficult time.