Peter Jennings:- Maidstone first club Chairman and a Club Vice President died at the weekend.
Peter, was a Surgeon at St. Barts Hospital Chatham and had learnt his rowing at Curlew with which he always had strong links, he was a member of Leander and of the Stewards, an ex member of the ARA Medical Committee, and for many years an Umpire and Chief Umpire of the South East Region.
The death of Peter is being announced tomorrow in the papers
Peter’s wife Valarie also a Doctor and a GP in Chatham Kent, survives him and still lives in Chatham.
Peter had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years which has meant we have not hear from him recently. He finally went in to a nursing home earlier this year and passed away at the weekend.
The funeral will be a small private family one at the crematorium, however a memorial service is being held at Bridgewood Manor Hotel at the Bridgewood roundabout (Blue Bell Hill ) Chatham on 26th April at 2pm for all who would be interested in attending in order to remember Peter and his life and his contribution to your Life your sport and your Club. (The family ask that you please don’t wear black nor too send flowers). Anyone who wishes to attend will be welcome.
For Members of Maidstone Invicta Peter was one of our founding members, being the Chairman for many years of the regional Umpires Commission, Peter also chaired Maidstone Rowing Committee which ran the then two local head Races in Maidstone before the our club was re-borne in 1984. He then was our chairman for the first 3 years of the club.
Peter served as an umpire at all the local heads and Regattas and at many national regattas and head races which included the 1986 World Championships at Nottingham in 1986 and an Anglo-French Match at Bewl Bridge.
Peter Jennings Far right, Glasses at the back wearing the cap.
Peter was always keen to see others and particularly juniors take up the sport and was a bronze medal coach, not only did he buy the club one of its first racing four for Novices ,( a Restricted Four from Poplar RC), he actually made a new training single wooden play-boat for the club which is the Red wooden training play-boat still kept in the River Boathouse and he repaired a number of other boats in our early fleet. Peter’s guiding hand and his contacts within the sport were very useful and a great strength in helping to get the Maidstone Club started in the early years , and I was always very grateful for his help and advice.
I hope those that remember Peter will join me at the service on the 26th, anyone wanting more details please contact John Clayton or email matthew.richardson86@gmail.com who will pass on John’s contact details.
Please pass this message on to anyone in other clubs who knew Peter and would be interested in attending.
Regards
John Clayton