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Peter Stallibrass 12th
January 1928 - 10th July 2025
Peter Stallibrass was born in
Twickenham on the 12 Jan 1928 to Edward and Elizebeth. While growing up in
London, Peter attended school during the war years. This made his time in
education rather testing and somewhat limited. For quite a lot of his school
years, his schooling was restricted to going to someone’s house with 5 other
pupils where they would be joined by a teacher for their lessons. Classes would
only last about 2 hours, but, despite this situation, Peter passed the exams he
required to attend the Twickenham Technical College, where he studied
Engineering.
He completed this course in 1943, and much to the surprise of his Tutor, he
joined a firm of Chartered Accountants, where he earned 37/6s which was
equivalent to around £1.75 a week
His office was on a 3rd floor of the building, and he became well practiced at
diving for cover when hearing the distinctive sound of a bomb falling.
Peter talked about the time when one Saturday morning while waiting to board a
bus at Waterloo, a bomb dropped onto the station. The blast blew out the windows
of the bus but, due to stepping into the gutter to allow people to pass, the
glass passed over him. He walked to work that morning and on seeing him in his
now dusty blue suit, and blood running down his neck from a cut over his ear,
the Directors announced that there would be no work on all future Saturdays.
Peter had never felt so popular.
In the February of 1946, Peter was conscripted into the Army for National
Service. Although he conducted his training in Ireland, he served his time in
England. During his National Service, Peter reached the rank of Sergeant.
In the August of 1949, and after a short spell at the British-American Tobacco
Company, Peter re-enlisted into the Army. He was re-granted the rank of Sergeant
and went on to have the most remarkable career.
Peter started office service as a member of the RASC. responsible for land,
coastal and lake transport, air despatch and barracks administration. Between
1949 and 1952 Peter spent his first few years in the UK. In 1952 and after
24-days travelling he arrived in the Far East where he served in Johore Bahru
and Kluang in Malaya with the Gurkha Brigade.
Early in 1950, Peter was with a friend called Bill, when, a Photo fell from
Bills wallet, this was to be the first time Peter saw Pamela, Bill’s sister.
While at Bills wedding in July 1950, Peter finally met her. They never looked
back. Their relationship just went from strength to strength and on the 01
September 1951, Peter and Pamela were married at Tibshelf in Derbyshire.
Peter was then to take up his new post in Singapore with Pamela and on the 09
December 1953, they welcomed their first son, Paul into the family. In the
February of 1955 the family returned to the UK, and between 1955-1959 Peter
moved from the Joint Services Staff College to HQ Eastern Command and finally on
to a Training battalion in Aldershot. It was while in Aldershot, another
opportunity arose to serve with the Gurkhas.
Now, it must also be said that this was also a busy time for Pamela. 6 months
after arriving back in the UK and on the 25 August 1955, Peter, Pamela and of
course Paul, welcomed Kevin to the family. On the 26 July 1957 they were joined
by Christine.
Between the May of 1959 and June 1962, Peter served at Nee Soon and again in
Kluang in Malaya. He also spent a period of time in Borneo. This was to be
Peters last posting to the Far East and in the June of 1962, the family returned
to the UK. In June 1962 Peter starts working at MOD. Whitehall, where he
is assigned to MI4. He would always joke that he made the tea for MI5, meaning
whatever he did during those years, he would take to the grave. A man of his
word.
In 1964, Paul was going to be 11 and fortunately a baby sister, Joanne would
complete the family, sharing his 9th of December birthday.
In 1965 and after 3 years of being a highly successful and popular “tea maker”
Peter was posted to HQ 1Div in BAOR (Germany). It was also during this year that
the RASC was dissolved and Peter transferred to the RAOC. Peter was finally
posted for the last time to the UK and, on the 06 April 1970. Warrant Officer
Class 1 (SSM) was discharged with Full Pension, from the Army.
During his service, Peter was awarded the GSM with Clasp ‘Malaya’, Long Service
and Good Conduct Medal and Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal which was awarded by the
Malaysian Government for Service during the Malaysian Conflict.
In 1969, prior to his discharge, the family moved to Shenfield where they
brought a shop.
Finally, and I am sure MUCH to Pamela’s relief, the family’s final move in 1971
was to see them settled into their forever home. This would be their 23rd move.
Peter, absolutely made the most of his retirement and his love for his family
and animals really showed. Winters would be spent looking back through the
family history. His research on the family tree led to this website.
Peter was a very proud Freemason and was initiated into the Shenfield Lodge in
1976 and made his way up the order He was the Almoner for a number of years.
This is a position for an officer responsible for the care and support of lodge
members, their families, widows, and dependants, especially those who are ill or
in need. Peter co-founded the Daylight Lodge which helped those with mobility
difficulties to attend. This was hugely successful and very popular.
Peter was just the most incredible gentlemen who led and lived the most
extraordinary life, sadly, some aspects and experiences we will never know, but
he was and always will be highly respected, loved and whose advice will be
missed.
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