Past Master - Peter Knight

Very Sad Passing of Past Master Peter Knight FRICS FCILA ACII ACIArb FRSH; 2004/05

It is announced that Peter passed away on Christmas Eve 2010.

A memorial service is to be held on The City on 15th February 2011 at 2pm. The venue is confirmed at St. Mary-le-Bow on Cheapside ( www.stmarylebow.co.uk ) the service will be given by the Reverend George R. Bush. The reason for this choice is several, not least that Peter was very fond of George, and that it is the family Church in the City; Peters` daughter was married there. Peter also was a great supporter and Trustee of the East London Charity "Arts for All", which he first encountered at St Mary-le-Bow.

Peters family have said livery members all will be warmly welcome to join the service, if they do so it would be hugely appreciated.

Peter was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, The Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers and The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators plus the City Livery Club.

Any further information required please seek from The Clerk please.

Peter Knight from The Buntingford & Royston News:

A LARGER than life former Buntingford deputy mayor who ran businesses in the town and headed up the town’s Scouts has died aged 67.

Peter Knight was born in Bishop’s Stortford in 1944, attending schools in the town and was county diving champion at 14. The youngest qualified Scout master at 18, Peter spent time in America running scout camps.

He started working life as a quantity surveyor for Herts County Council, marrying Diana Dedman in 1965. The couple had three children together, Andrew, Jacqueline and Jonathan. Andrew tragically died in a road accident aged four. Moving to Westland Green outside Little Hadham in 1977, he later qualified as a chartered loss adjuster.

He opened a branch of his surveying and valuing business Knight & Co. into Buntingford’s Red House on High Street in 1985. Soon after, a history in scouting re-emerged and Peter found himself as the town’s group Scout leader, later organising a one-off family camp in Little Court, on The Causeway.

In 1993, he started estate agency Churchills from the same premises with Alan Brown. Peter ran for the town council in 1995, serving for three years as councillor and finishing off as deputy mayor.

The same year he bought a hotel in Lowestoft coast which he and Diane transformed into the Flying Fifteens tea room. After stepping down from the council he was also involved in setting up the Town Centre Management Team with John Warren, becoming chairman in its first year.

Peter was appointed President of The Insurance Benevolent and Orphans Funds at the 1997 AGM which was held at The Insurance Hall on 22 July. The Funds give vital financial support and practical advice to insurance people and their dependent relatives.

He also gained freedom of the City of London in the 1970s, also serving as president of the National Insurance Charities as well as Master of the Worshipful Company of Constructors.

In September, he saw the conclusion of 20 years of fundraising that started on his watch materialise in the form of the new Buntingford Scout hut.

He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve. Peter was be laid to rest today at Epping Forest Funeral Park, North Weald.

He is survived by his second wife Catherine, his children Jacqueline and Jonathan and four grandchildren.

Peter Knight and Arts for All

Arts For All is a community creative centre based in Shoreditch in the East End of London. They run creative clubs and classes for local people, and aim to build confidence through creative achievement. They run exciting clubs for all ages, working in many different art forms and materials.

An important part of their work is with local children and young people. With junior art and craft clubs and youth work as a priority, Arts For All is enriching lives. They encourage children to develop creative hobbies and interests, in an atmosphere of fun and laughter; and offer a colourful, vibrant place for them to call their own!

They believe strongly in inclusion and, at Arts For All, people from many different social and cultural backgrounds unite in friendship and creative exploration.

www.artsforall.co.uk/

Peter introduced Arts for All to The Company during his year as Master.  We supported their excellent youth work and later during his year Peter arranged a exhibition followed by a reception INSIDE the Guildhall Art Gallery.

See above Peter with some of the exhibitors and right making the welome speach on behalf of The Company.

Later on but when Bob Craig was Master, Arts for All paintings by the youngsters of the Lord Mayors (November 2004) Parade were made to decorate the inside and outside of a beautiful Fruit Bowl.  The Bowl itself was made by the craftsmen of Lowestoft and presented by Peter from both The Company and Arts for All to The Lord Mayor (Now Sir) David Brewer CMG JP (also like Peter a member of The Insurers Livery Company) and Lady Mayoress at a reception we held in May 2006.  All at the inspiration of Peter.

See above Peter (in the gown of Immediate Past Master) with the Bowl and then showing John Trussler and Kenneth Kent.  Finally with The Lord Mayor David Brewer and staff of Arts for All.

Golf Day at Tandridge 2005

Peter was not a golfer! But here he is in the Clubhouse on his golf day supervising the marking of the cards with Alan Longhurst.  Alan always seemed to either win or be runner up and Peter certainly had in mind to keep an eye on the cards.  Looking now at the outcome Peter was quite right too! Following the golf itself The Company always enjoys the evening Dinner.

Livery Luncheons

Peter loved our Livery lunches see here with Past Master Paul Lacey and on right with former Clerk Tim Nicolson.