I never intended to have a serious element to my blog....... but
Pete Reid – a dear friend
I drove through a blizzard today to attend the funeral of a wonderful friend – Pete Reid.
As I went past upside down vehicles, as my car slewed across the road towards oncoming traffic, one voice was ringing in my head, it was Pete saying, ‘Don’t you dare drive in that weather to my funeral’.
What a dilemma.
I knew Pete for more than twenty years. I have no idea how we met. He was unbelievable kind and caring towards me and my loved ones. However ill he was he would always ask firstly about YOUR health and the health of YOUR family.
Pete’s knowledge of history and geography and art would surprise anyone who only saw his seemingly gruff exterior. His life was full of amazing stories and we discussed them all.
He was indefatigable; he lost both legs and acted as if nothing had changed.
He suffered appalling illness and just bounced back…. as I was sure he would this time…. were you in that box as they lowered it into the ground…. ????
Pete rung me 100 times, I rang him once or possibly twice. It was a sort of running joke. We would have extensive conversations about all the subjects that interested us. Sometimes we discussed politics, but usually it was history, or family-he was very proud of his family.
Pete was pragmatic, a man of action and far as I could tell completely without prejudice. He never generalised, he only ever criticised individuals who promised, but didn’t deliver.
When I became ill he rang regularly to check on my health.
He encouraged me to attend meetings and practically forced people to take me to them!
I can hear his kindly voice ringing in my ears…. ‘Meeeeeester Judd’ were the first two words of any conversation. If the world was full of Pete Reids everything would get done and most of the time we would all be happy.
