99 Not Out

Watton Rotary Club member Peter Beech celebrated his 99th birthday in February 2023.

Peter was boirn in Bethnal Green, London and his first experience of Norfolk  was being evacuated to North Walsham at the age of 16 during the Second World War.

From 1942 he was conscripted into the Royal Navy, and when demobbed in 1945 started an engineering degree at Battersea Polytechnic. He worked for British Gas in various capacities until his retirerment in 1987, when he and his wife Jill decided to return to Norfolk, moving to Shipdham.

A lifelong cricket enthusiast, Peter played cricket for Southend, where he met Jill. He continued to play the sport after his retirement. It was indirectly  through cricket that was introduced to Rotary. Soon aftrer moving to Shipdham Peter had a problem with his car, as there was a rattle, and the engine kept cutting out, particularly when driving round bends.

Peter took the car to Ivan Chubbock Garage Services in Shipdham, and after checking a few things, Ivan said 'Do you play cricket, Peter?' as there was a cricket ball rolling around in his Humber Sceptre glove box. When the car went round a bend the ball rolled and activated an engine cut-out switch in the glove box. The previous owner had fitted this security switch but had not advised Peter.  Ivan later introduced Peter to Watton Rotary Club, where he has been a member ever since, and is a Past President.

His friends at Watton Rotary Club presented him with a birthday card in February which had a cricket theme, showing 99 not out on the scoreboard. We look forward to his century next year, when hopefully Peter will receive a telegram or card from King Charles, to add to the Diamond  Wedding telegram they already have from Queen Elizabeth