A few years ago, Peter’s daughter Chris suggested that it would be a nice for her father to write an illustrated autobiography as a legacy for his grandsons, Edward and Matthew. At over 90 his recall proved to be quite remarkable. It would also be a reflection on an extraordinary, long, healthy and happy life during which, through hard work and determination he achieved a very successful career. It would also highlight his talents to mend almost anything and create models in metal, wood and paper for which he went to great lengths to perfect.
From the completed book the family have chosen to briefly describe his childhood in Denham.
Peter was an only child born to Oscar John and Dorothy Hannah Morgan he grew up in Denham Village in Bucks. When Peter was very young his father was in Russia fighting for his country in the First World War. He suffered badly from extreme conditions and, although he did return, died when Peter was only 5 leaving them a single parent family. Life for his mother was a struggle she earned a living dress making and offering general needlework repairs and eventually moved herself and Peter into her parents' house . They occupied No. 2 Island Cottages in Denham Village. The cottages have long since been demolished and the area is now the small village green.
Life at No.2 was quite primitive in 1925: water was drawn from a communal well, the loo comprised a crude earth closet emptied once a week by the local odd job man and lighting was by candles or oil lamp. Eventually running water and a sink was installed and his Mum had a 'Penny-in - the -slot' gas meter to feed a single gas light. Peter was able to help with his mother’s allotment. How lucky are we today!
Denham in those days was a true village with a working community. It supported schools, a church, farms, a butcher, baker, grocer, a post office, news agent, coal merchant, builder. blacksmith and, of course, Pubs . What more could one want! Peter enjoyed a happy, carefree childhood. Treats were rare but one which he especially recalled was that of a flight in a Vickers Vimey, twin engine bi-plane which took off from a farmer's field near Tatling End. He reckons that this experience started him on the road to modelling beginning with crude model aircraft.
Along with other village children they had the run of Denham's roads, lanes, fields, lakes and a canal. They played 'ducks and drakes’ stone skimming over the River Misbourne near the village hall as well as Iron Hoops where they ran around the village making quite a racket. Also 'follow -my-leader ' on bicycles using a ball. Peter used an old bike belonging to his mother. What fun they had!
Denham Studios also provided much entertainment and Peter particularly remembered the filming of 'The Yankee At Oxford'. The night watchman allowed the boys special access to the Thames skiffs after filming had stopped for the day.
Peter did fairly well at school and managed to stay in the higher echelon of his class, Music however was not to his liking though and when his voice was breaking he was ordered to go and clean the pigeon loft. Peter left school at 14 as you did in those days and, in order to obtain a Higher National Certificate he attended Southall Technical College three nights a week whilst working by day for an electrical engineering firm in Gerrards Cross. alas, though his career and studies suffered a six year set back for WWII, which proved to be another significant part of his life.
During both his pre and post war years and continuing his involvment with Denham village life he became a proficient Campanologist ringing the Bells of St Marys Church in Denham for weddings, funerals and other church events.
Immediately after the war in August 1945 Peter married Dorothy who he met in Gainsborough as a direct result of a wartime posting and relatively soon after they celebrated the birth of their first child Christine who was born in December 1947. Dorothy gave up work and became a full time housewife which continued until she sadly passed away in November 2007 after 63 years of marriage. It was a while before they achieved the family they wanted a girl and a boy having suffered the devastating loss of one child, in March 1953 Michael finally arrived. Their family was now complete and Peter set about continuing his career as a very skilled electrical engineer moving rapidly up in Honeywell until he was in control of major water works contracts and installations.
Later in his life two Grandchildren arrived Edward in July 1986 and Matthew in December 1990, Peter was so proud of both of them Edward having set up a successful business and Matthew who was the first Morgan, in our family tree, to achieve a University Degree. Sadly when he passed away he was only a few weeks away from becoming a Great Grandfather and the family are very sad that he was not able to see and hold it (sorry we don’t know what make it is yet).
Peter didn’t travel overseas much the highlights perhaps being a long trip to Brazil for his company (the longest he had been apart from Dorothy) and South Africa to visit some of Dorothy’s long lost relatives. He used to regularly say there is too much in the UK they hadn’t seen for them to need to go overseas.
As most of you are aware his one real passion in life after his family was Steam Trains. He spent literally thousands of hours building, running, designing, repairing and riding on them. His pride and joy was a Midland Compound 2000 which took 16 years to complete although he regularly reminded his son that without him he would have completed it quicker. It wasn’t just in metal that he was a genius but also wood and some of his projects will be on display at his home after the service.
Above all he was a brilliant husband/father/grandfather despite us getting in the way with his passion for steam he always had time to share with the family and was always there to guide and support us. Over his life all of us at some time joined in with his steam passion but with varying levels of interest.
Finally he had 98 healthy years and retained his humour and sharp intellect right up to the end. As recently as May this year he was still driving and he took to a computer a few years ago enjoying many happy hours logging and viewing his picture collection reliving happy memories, and becoming proficient at computer games. It is difficult to encapsulate 98 years in such a short time so I am sure there are parts that have been missed but we will all miss him, his knowledge and the love he shared with all of us.