We may
have raced in a boat called The Geoffrey Chaucer at Twickenham
Regatta in those far off days, yet there
is no hard evidence
to suggest that the ‘much celebrated man’ himself
actually visited Strawberry Vale, Twickenham at any time. However
a crew of Canterbury Pilgrims, as school oarsmen were called
when competing in events outside term-time, found themselves
there by the good grace of Mr and Mrs Chris Ament, tented on
their lawn on the bank of the River Thames in the summer of 1956.
Peter had gathered a crew together and we were set on beating
all records at The Serpentine Regatta; alas we did not allow
for the pure treacle of those waters. In awe of Peter’s father who coached us, and terrified
of his mother who kept an eagle eye on ‘her boys’,
they had us behaving impeccably and rowing passably. It must
have been the stimulus of their generosity and hospitality, and
Peter’s enthusiasm that led to the formal establishment
of a Canterbury Pilgrims Boat Club; an innovation which, apart
from a short period of obscurity, Peter nursed and encouraged
for many years. He put his redoubtable energy into raising funds
for new boats and young hopefuls and generally creating a dimension
of interest and fun. To say Peter was an innovator is surely an
understatement, for whilst at school he pioneered the substitution
of lessons at
King’s for those at the local technical college, following
a pathway of engineering subjects. This said a lot for the School’s
flexible attitude and caring ethos at the time. Always an opportunist and one never to be
afraid of raising his head above the parapet, he went through
life to the very
end, always the optimist and never taking ‘no’ for
an answer. He married Diana Kaye (D) in 1965 who supported him
through many ups and downs and more recently through his incredibly
courageous tussle against cancer. They had two daughters, Louise
and Antonia, the latter going to King’s sixth form. Peter was a celebrated oarsman, rowing in
the King’s 1st
VIII which reached the semi-final of the Princess Elizabeth Cup
at Henley in 1957, losing to Shrewsbury in a close race which
broke the records to the barrier and Fawley and equalled the
full course record for the event – and was 23 seconds faster
than the winning time in the final. He also rowed for the highly
respected RAF Benson Crew during National Service, for the London
Rowing Club Grand VIII and for Twickenham Rowing Club, becoming
Secretary and later Vice President of Twickenham Regatta. He
became a much sought after crew coach, including work with a
number of successful Oxford College boats, and qualified as a
race umpire, something of which he was proud. More latterly he
took to yacht racing in and around the Solent, racing Sigmas
with considerable success, winning the Junior Offshore Group
for his class and taking part in many competitive races to France.
He was an active member of the Royal Solent Yacht Club, eventually
serving as Rear Commodore (House). Peter was involved with many different enterprises during his
life, from taking over a heating and ventilating firm started
by his father to running a wine bar in the Isle of Wight. For
twenty five years he was the very energetic Secretary of the
Folkboat Association, only retiring last year. Peter and D also
started their own company, Folkboat UK Ltd, which was a business
importing Folkboats and spares from Denmark. Peter would collect
boats from Denmark and deliver them all round the UK, the last
one being collected about this time last year. With D inevitably
at his side it is true to say that Peter never waited for doors
to open, he invariably opened them himself. Peter we salute you, and your brave wife and family for supporting
you during your valiant struggle. Your constant friendship and
happy smile, sunny disposition and encouraging philosophy, will
be sorely missed by many. Jan Balkwill (WL 1947-57) Peter Ament, who played a leading part in founding the Canterbury
Pilgrims Boat Club, died on 22 February 2008, aged 69, after
a long illness. He was for many years an excellent Chairman of
the Pilgrims, always full of enthusiasm for the affairs in hand,
with a bluff, good humoured manner that got things done and encouraged
others. In 2002 he became President of the Club. He was a good friend to King’s and fostered
a constructive relationship between the Pilgrims, with its active
roll of rowers
at national and international level, and the School Boat Club.
In a gesture typical of the man, when a young member of the Pilgrims
and former Captain of Boats at King’s, Edward Beaugie (GL
1984-89), died in a bicycle accident in 1998, his parents John
(GL 1953-57) and Ann chose the Canterbury Pilgrims Boat Club
as the charity to which friends and family might contribute in
his memory. On his own initiative and without consulting the
Beaugies, Peter visited the Headmaster, Keith Wilkinson,
at the School and proposed that the donations raised should be
used to strike a medal in Edward’s name, to be awarded
annually for outstanding achievement, in any sport, based on
individual sporting prowess and the qualities of leadership which
have benefited the winner’s sport or game in the School.
This was accepted and is the School’s premier sporting
award. Mike Brown
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