Military milestone for Uckfield's Canon Bill Peters
Uckfield’s Canon Bill Peters is the last chaplain who served in World War II to still be working. And, as he celebrates his 70th year in the church, Canon Peters, who will be 93 this year, has no plans to stop.
David Blake, curator of the Museum of Army Chaplaincy in Andover, Hampshire, confirmed Canon Peters was the only remaining Church of England wartime chaplain alive.
Canon Peters, who lives in Uckfield and is frequently seen around the town, says he still has a lot left to achieve.
“If anybody wants to get married, and the parish is happy, then I do them.
“I am fit and healthy, probably due to my early life as a sportsman, and, God willing, I will be carrying on for a good while yet.
“I have been a priest for 70 years this year and I have spent all that time in Sussex, except when I was in the army and canon of a cathedral,” he said.
Canon Peters volunteered as a chaplain in World War II and was posted to North Africa and the Middle East before spending 27 years as rector of Uckfield and 28 years as chaplain of Brighton College.
He met The Queen on many occasions when she visited Little Horsted Church during her trips to see her friend, the late Lord Rupert Nevill, who lived nearby.
Before the war Canon Peters played football for Brighton and Hove Albion and cricket for Sussex.
He still attends as many Albion home fixtures as he can.
Last year colleagues gathered at Uckfield Community Hospital to bid farewell to Canon Peters, who retired as Chaplain at the hospital after 42 years.
He is a widower of ten years and a grand-father of two.
Our thanks to Ron Hill for the photographs accompanying this feature.
Canon Bill Peters still supports the Seagulls
Canon Bill at home in Uckfield
Canon Bill (right) at the town's bonfire celebrations
See also:
(Added to site Monday, February 6th, 2012)
