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Tributes To Popular Journalist, Teacher And Sports Coach Who Was Always At The Heart Of His Community

Tributes have been paid to a renowned Lincolnshire journalist who tragically died after collapsing from a heart attack.

Peter Thompson, 75, from Caistor, had been recovering after treatment for a previous heart condition when he collapsed while out in Market Rasen.

He died in Lincoln County Hospital last week with his family by his side.

Peter, a former grammar school teacher, excelled in a wide range of subjects and sports.

Over the last 25 years he was The Wolds correspondent for local news outlets and worked at the Grimsby Telegraph for around 20 years.

He became the photo journalist for Market Rasen Races and was a regular feature of the annual Grimsby Bikeathon in aid of Leukaemia Research and Blood Cancer.

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Peter Thompson with champion jocket AP McCoy at Market Rasen (Image: submitted by Gwyneth Thompson)

He fulfilled an extraordinary number of passions throughout his life. He was intelligent and possessed an unrivalled knowledge of sporting events from the past, in the field of hockey, cricket and football.

Peter was married to Gwyneth "Gwen", for 49 years, having met at teacher training college in Chester.

She said she had been comforted by the "amazing" number of messages of sympathy and cards recognising Peter's contribution to life in the Wolds community and beyond.

Gwyneth said: "He enjoyed being a journalist and being with all the other staff. He was friendly and would talk to anyone. Whenever we went on holiday and visited a bar it didn't take him long to be chatting to someone and usually it was football and he could recall every team and their players and who scored. He engaged in conversation with everyone.

"He loved going to the races. Ladies Day was his favourite. He got to know so many people.

Peter Thompson with author and former Middle East hostage, Terry Waite (Image: submitted by Gwyneth Thompson)

"Peter was always hard working, devoted to his family and loved his garden. We used to open it for the National Garden Scheme. He was never more proud than when showing people round his garden. I will carry that on in his memory."

In one of his columns, Peter recalled the time he joined the Grimsby Telegraph.

He had said: “Shortly after taking early retirement from full-time teaching one day in February 1994, I was invited to go for an interview with the Grimsby Telegraph.

"An hour later after meeting Peter Moore the paper’s long serving editor, I was on my way back to Caistor as their Wolds Correspondent. I was also given a camera.

"I look back on that day as the best mid-life career decision I made, in the context of changing times in education and enabling me to do what I could enjoy doing, which was writing."

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His wife has received messages of support from all the groups Peter had been associated with, including scouting, cricket, Elsham Golf Club, Brocklesby Cricket Club where he was hailed as a great spin bowler, Caistor Male Voice Choir, Brigg Grammar School Old Boys and hockey.

One of his many accolades was having represented England on the hockey pitch.

He travelled extensively with hockey teams which he coached or umpired at a senior level.

Peter taught RE at Vale of Ancholme School and Caistor Grammar School after Gwyneth and he moved back to Lincolnshire from Cheshire in 1972. He was a House Master at the grammar school.

He became a Venture Scout Leader and once organised a cycle trek from Dorset to the Scottish border.

Peter Thompson travelling to The Isle of Arran on the West Coast of Scotland where his remains will be scattered (Image: submitted by Gwyneth Thompson)

Both Peter and Gwyneth fell in love with the Isle of Arran on the Scottish west coast and made regular trips there for breaks. The island off the Firth of Clyde is where Peter's family will scatter his ashes following a funeral service later in June.

He played a leading role in sports coaching, in the main with Brigg Hockey Club where he enjoyed great success. He developed the sides and encouraged young people to take up the sport. Latterly he became a county umpire and officiated across the leagues.

In his journalism career he met and photographed 'Freddie' Flintoff, David Cameron, William Hague, Matt Baker, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Nobby Stiles, Paul Scholes, Jack Charlton, Roy 'Chubby' Brown, and A.P. McCoy, among many others.

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He also reported on the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake whose epicentre was near Market Rasen. It had measured 5.2 on the Richter scale and shook homes to their foundations.

Peter also served for more than a decade as secretary to the Deanery Synod of The Church of England in Lincolnshire.

He is survived by wife Gwyneth, daughters Lucy and Nichola and son David and their respective partners Russell, Clinton and Alana and grand daughter Eloise, four and cousin, Sylvia.

A date for a service at St Peter and St Paul's in Caistor will be announced soon.

His family said mourners will be able to attend outside as the service will be relayed over speakers into the grounds.