It’s hard to write my thoughts about Peter’s death.

When he was born, Bruce was full of joy and took Peter under his wing, showing him how to be naughty and how to be

good. They were wonderful friends and had many adventures together.

As they grew up, boarding school parted them, making both Bruce and Peter, and me, cry a lot about it, as it broke our

togetherness too.

Peter was a very dear companion and help with the three girls and me in all sorts of ways… he was big brother to the

girls and a dearest companion to me. I sought his advice often and it made a bond between us, never to be broken

until his heartbreaking and horrific death.

I can’t get over it, simply cannot believe it and every day and evening is diminished by not being able to phone him for

news and vice versa – as all my old friends, except one, are dead. The fact that my son is gone too leaves me crippled

in my heart.

His sisters, Pat, Carol and Phillipa give me comfort as they too have lost their brother and friend. Bruce is shattered in

many ways losing his brother, as they had a lot of fun together, indeed so are many of his friends and I am very sorry

and sad for his children, as he was a good, kind father.

Catherine is lucky having Stuart and Brittany, especially as Stuart is very like Peter.

Peter had a healthy love of birds and dogs, and animals in general, even had a Cape Eagle Owl as a pet for several

years. We had a big aviary and Bruce and Peter filled it with budgies, rabbits, a tortoise and guinea pigs.

When the boys grew big, they hunted together and fished together, a very happy pastime.

Now that Peter has gone, a lot of future hopes Bruce had - have died with Peter too.

I could write a great many delightful times about Peter, but memories are all we have now, Peter darling, that’s our only

luck.

But, sadness rules me now.

Your Mum.

Pete’s mom, the OG Cape Town, May 2007

IN YOUR WORDS