LIVES

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Stephen, Caroline and Robert were born.

In 1978, Peter was posted to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and we settled in the market town of Faringdon. When Peter retired at 55, he could indulge his real passion — close-up magic. He put on shows at local events and was a member of the local amateur dramatic society. Peter was an extrovert and a real character, so he was the obvious choice to play eccentric aristocrat Lord Berners, who had lived at historic Faringdon House in the 1930s. He famously kept pigeons that he dyed various colours.

Peter would dress up with a fake pink pigeon attached to his bowler hat.

One local lady would curtsey to him whenever she bumped into him on the street or at the shops.

At his funeral, friends paid tribute to his involvement in the local community, his career in the RAF and his love of entertainment. My overwhelming emotion was one of great pride that my talented husband had left such a lovely, happy legacy for the people of our little town and for all who knew him.

■ PETER MORNINGTON WENTWORTH, born September 17, 1940; died January 6, 2023, aged 82.