Peter Cresswell, who has died at the age of 92, was a true gentleman and a people person who was always happy to help.
Born in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire on 6th July, 1931, he was the son of Ernest and Mabel who had their own furniture business and Peter boarded at Highgate School, London.
On leaving school he went to work in the Merchant Navy to undertake his national service, sailing the infamous Atlantic crossings to bring back goods to Britain from North America after the Second World War. He spent over a decade in the Merchant Navy, including six years as deck navigation officer, and rose to be second mate.
While serving in the Navy and docked in Manchester, he met his future wife, Jean, at the Ritz dance hall when they were both 18 years old. A long distance courtship began and they were married on 27th March, 1954. Peter passed away the day before their 70th wedding anniversary.
Peter and Jean made their early life in Manchester and when Peter left the Navy he joined the police, first being stationed at Workington in 1957.
He was then transferred to Penrith and moved to Ravenstonedale in 1962, where he was a traditional village bobby. It was there that their son, Rob, was born.
In 1967 Peter returned to Penrith and became the training sergeant. In 1973 he took on the position of road safety officer. He took great delight in coaching children for their cycling proficiency badges and also in working with horse riders to teach them road safety. He was very much a “hands on” policeman and liked to work with the public.
He is still well remembered by many in the Penrith area for this role in the 1970s and 80s which he fulfilled until his retirement in 1986.
In retirement Peter worked part-time, initially for Penrith-based solicitors Harrison, Grainger and Reed, and also undertook various volunteer roles with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation and as a driver for the Fellrunner Bus Service.
Peter and Jean enjoyed their holidays and went on a number of cruises and trips to various European destinations.
Peter was also an active church member, having been a sidesman for many years and spending some time as acting churchwarden at Christ Church, Penrith.
He was closely involved in the upgrading of the church when the central pews were removed to allow for more comfortable seating to be installed. He organised the purchasing and laying of the new carpet in the church as part of that reorganisation.
Both Peter’s father and his uncle were freemasons, so it was not surprising that he also became a mason. He was a valued member of Ullswater Lodge and Inglewood Mark Lodge, and he became a founder member of the Monument Lodge.
Peter was very proud of his family and is survived by his wife, Jean, son Rob, who is a franchise manager for Jaguar Land Rover UK, daughter-in-law Julie and grandchildren George, who is a primary school teacher at Beaconside School in Penrith, and granddaughter Grace, who is entering her final year at Edinburgh University where she is studying veterinary medicine.
Peter will be remembered by those that knew him as a kind, jovial person who was always willing to help and he will be sadly missed by many friends and family.
His funeral was held on Thursday at Christ Church. Any donations in his memory are for the Great North Air Ambulance Service and can be sent to Richardsons Funeral Directors.
