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Published on August 3, 2006 By dharmagrl In Misc

The article about my dad and his death can be found here:Link

In case the link doesn't work, I've copied the article:

Death of Dick Peverill

A FORMER stonemason and well-known Bicester character has died, aged 78.

Douglas Peverill, of Duxford Close, was known to Bicester Advertiser readers for his regular letters.

Across the years Mr Peverill, known as Dick, fought for action on many different local issues including Bicester's community hospital, pedestrian crossings, alleyways and improvements to the town's pavements.

Mr Peverill was born in Bucknell and spent all of his life in North Oxfordshire, living in Cropredy, Wardington, Middleton Stoney, Ambrosden and, for the past 17 years, in Bicester.

He learned his trade as a stonemason with Norman Collison builders, now Ambrosden Court.

The father-of-three left many permanent reminders of his work in the Bicester area, including the building now occupied by Lloyds TSB in Sheep Street, a bungalow in Piddington and two houses in Marsh Gibbon.

Widow Betty, 71, said: "He was quite a character. We have had in the region of about 75 cards from all over with some people saying they will miss his letters in the Bicester Advertiser.

"He liked to get things done. Everybody knew him."

Last summer, Mr Peverill was featured in the Bicester Advertiser complaining that potholes and high kerbs on the town's pavements were forcing him to drive his motorised scooter on the road.

Mrs Peverill said: "I noticed this week they are doing the kerb drops in Queen's Avenue now, it won't do him any good now but it will do someone else some good."

Town and district councillor Les Sibley said: "He was a character, no two ways about that. Whenever he wanted anyone to put forward a case on behalf of residents, he would do it in a forthright and robust manner.

"He kept local councillors on their toes about issues, he was forever writing letters. He used to write to me on regular occasions, bending my ear."

Mr Peverill died in Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital on July 23, after battling heart problems for many years.

He leaves behind his wife Betty, three children, Kevin, 50, Karen, 37, and Christopher, 32, and seven grandchildren.

His funeral took place at Banbury Crematorium on Wednesday.

 

He made the front page of the local paper (the print edition).  Wherever he is, I know he's smiling about that.....

Good on yer, dad.  Good on yer.


Comments
on Aug 03, 2006

Here's the link to the article about him staging a sit-in at the hospital:http://archive.oxfordmail.net/1998/9/12/84371.html

There's a few others I can link to if anyone's interested in reading what a tenacious and sometimes cantankerous old coot he was. 

He was MY cantankerous old coot of a dad, though, and I'm so proud of him.  Proud of what he did and who he was....and I think that the best tribute I can give him is to live my life to the fullest and do things that I know would make him proud of me.  When I told him that Dave and I were going to South Dakota, he said "travel while you're young, gal.  See the world and all that's in it.  Don't waste your opportunies to go somewhere new and see something different."

He was my hero.  He never knew that until last year....I wrote him and mum a tribute to be read at their 50th wedding anniversary, and I included a letter for them to read in private.  I told him and mum that I couldn't have asked for better parents and that they were both my heros - they set an example for me of what a good marriage should be.  He taught me that forgiveness is a must and that love is unconditional.  When Dave and I got married he gave me a card that said "It sometimes pays to count to ten" - meaning that I should stop and think before I said something I'd regret.  

I have a card that he sent me last year that I'm going to treasure.  He'd had a photo of me when I was about 7, and I was in my Brownie uniform giving the camera my best salute. He'd had in enlarged and said that it was going to be on display at their anniversary party.  In the card he'd told me that it was his favorite picture of me, and that he knew I'd be there in spirit if not in person. 

Now it's my turn to feel his spirit.  I felt him the other day...I can't explain how it feels, but I think anyone who lost a loved one will know what it feels like.  He was there with me, I have no doubt of that.

I'm going to go plant his rose in a few moments.  As I'm putting it in the planter and covering it with earth, I'm going to talk to him.  I'm going to tell him that I love him and that he was the best dad anyone could ever have had.

He was the best dad.  He was (IS) MY dad.

on Aug 03, 2006
on Aug 03, 2006
Nice articles, and excellent tributes to an apparently great man.

Still sorry for your loss Dharma, but nice to see your dad getting the deserved nice publicity.
on Aug 03, 2006
You have a LOT to be proud of....I'm impressed at how much he was involved in his community. He actually did something about the issues he was concerned about.
on Aug 03, 2006
Wherever he is, I know he's smiling


I'm sure he is
on Aug 03, 2006
Wow! You're right he's probably smiling right now. That is a wonderful tribute to him.
on Aug 04, 2006
Good to see you finding the positives too.  I bet he is smiling about that as well.
on Aug 04, 2006
Celebrating one's life is how I like to see it. My condolences to your loss.