The Late Peter R Hart, 1 May 1935 – 19 December 2021.

Although Peter fondly remembered his time at Hymers College (1946-1954) it wasn’t until later in his life he had time to become a member of the Old Hymerians, but then managed to revisit the school and thoroughly enjoyed a number of Old Hymerians dinners.

He always admitted to everyone that he didn’t shine at anything in particular during the first five years at Hymers College, and his school reports emphasised he was ‘average’ but he really enjoyed his education, had an amazing memory, and particularly enjoyed his time in the Sixth Form. His particular talent was as an artist which was nurtured in the Sixth Form. He enjoyed drawing buildings and has left albums of beautiful sketches which he could finish very quickly with pencil and pad simply by leaning on a lamp post.

It wasn’t surprising that he found Hymers high standards difficult as he started primary school at the beginning of the war at Willerby Carr Lane, and then went to seven different primary schools until he started at Hymers in 1945. 

His father was a Squadron Leader in the RAF with Coastal Command. The family left Hull at the beginning of the war and rented homes wherever his father was stationed. Peter attended schools from Willerby Carr Lane, Hull; Ilkley Ben Rydding; Hartburn Primary School near Stockton on Tees; Wick Primary School, North Scotland; East Newport Primary School, North Fife; Hornsea Primary School; Cleethorpes St Peter’s Primary School, North Lincs, before finishing the last few months back at Willerby Carr Lane for his 11+ exam.

On leaving school he went to Hull University, studying Geography and English, and trained as a teacher. He first taught at Hessle High School, but the salary wasn’t great so to supplement this he started to teach in the evenings and then became a full-time Tutor Organiser at Everthorpe Borstal, from there he moved to Hull Prison and then to Suffolk (near Lowestoft) as Tutor Organiser at Blundeston Prison.

Big decision time, whether to leave Education and move into the prison service as a Prison Governor? He decided to stay in Education and was appointed to the Education Department at Leeds City Council, working in Further Education Colleges which eventually became part of the University.  He went on to become the Development Officer for the school building, transforming Victorian schools for Boys and Girls into Mixed and involved in building new Schools and Colleges. He had various promotions, until early retirement completing his time in the Civic Hall as Assistant Director of Administration.

Peter’s work then was in York, where he spent his time with the Local Government Ombudsman covering Liverpool and Newcastle etc, followed by two other employment appointments in York. Then back to Leeds, he returned to lecturing in Colleges and Schools and finally employed part-time as a Clerk to a number of local government Parish Councils. He retired aged 80.

He had a wide interest in everything and over the years has been WM and Treasurer in his Masonic Lodge, the Leeds Luncheon Club. He liked committees but particularly enjoyed having a leading role: Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Leeds, moving on to be District Treasurer, and then for one year District Governor of Rotary International.  

His final responsibility was as Warden of Leeds Minster, work that was very important to him. This was where his funeral was held in January 2022. The church was full of his family and many friends.

The hundreds of tributes were to an amazing, kind, unusual, and talented man. He has left his wife Ann, (who he used to meet from Hull High School for Girls when he was still at Hymers) three adult children, and nine talented grandchildren. Thank you Hymers College.

Ann Hart MBE