A Truly Exceptional Gentleman
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you all that Pete Wilson has passed away on Saturday 21st September 2024.
Pete Wilson was one of the Club's Honorary Members. His professional background was hard to determine. Pete's knowledge of the internal combustion engine and its associated mechanics was extensive, but building construction was an area at which he excelled too.
He was also an expert attendee at auctions, indeed almost all of the furnishings in the Club were acquired by Pete, at a fraction of their true worth. If he had been a 'Bargain Hunter' he would have had a trophy cabinet full of 'Golden Gavels' (and talking of trophy cabinets, that was another one of his contributions).
Some of Pete's younger years were spent as an exponent of karate, which he pursued to a very high level. It has been reported that he even ran barefoot in a charity event to somewhere like Scarborough over a weekend. Eventually he gave up karate and turned his attention to bridge. Karate's loss was the Bridge Club's gain.
Pete had been one of the main constructors of the Club. He was involved in almost every aspect of the move from Scunthorpe to Bottesford, especially in the construction of the Club, then its maintenance, and effectively he became its full time caretaker. At any time of the day if one were to visit the Club then one would, in all probability, catch Pete, usually halfway up a ladder, with a hammer in his hand. Presumably when necessary his karate training had made it easy for him to break wood and bricks with his bare hands.
Pete was also a very keen and talented bridge player. His enjoyment of the game meant that it was always a pleasure to play against him - unless it was on the last round after an arrow switch - he was always able to wax lyrical about how arrow switches gave his opponents the cards which he should have had!
Pete Wilson was a 'one off' who will be very sorely missed by his family and by his many, many friends.
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