Trevett, Peter

A tribute by his family and friends

Date of Death: 14/06/2025

This page contains the tribute read at the funeral of Peter and also images  of two letters to him regarding his work in the Civil Service.

Peter Trevett

(Sarah) Peter was born in March 1937 in Cheam to Ada and her first husband Herbert Trevett.  Peter’s father died early and Ada remarried Bill Salt.  

He went to Ottershaw Boys School, which was described in a matter of fact way by one of its alumni, and Peter’s contemporary, as ‘an unusual school for orphaned children, the offspring from broken homes, or boys with overseas parents’. Peter attained 7 GCE 'O' levels. He also earned a ‘Certificate of proficiency’ with the Air Training Corps whilst at school. Tony Forward, who I think is here, kindly provided this background and got to know Peter well through the Old Boys' Society and through his involvement with the committee and latterly through attendance at Guildford lunches which were run by Tony. 

Peter went on to pass the Civil Service exams and enter the Customs and Excise Department (which merged in 2005 to become what we know now as HMRC).

In one of his first assignments Leslie Philips (who is here) remembers working with Peter when they were at Herne Airport in Bournemouth, just after Peter was married.

In his early career he was supervising recent recruits during their probationary period.  Peter’s feedback to his managers on one of the employees was that they should be let go because they were “useless” and it would be better to do this now before they settled in and were promoted to more senior roles.  His manager informed him ‘we don’t sack people in the civil service’ and that was that!

(Rebecca)Through his expertise Peter rose to become an Assistant Secretary.  He was not allowed further promotion opportunities because he did not have a degree.  Peter felt his major contribution was in sorting out how VAT worked, and he regularly advised Ministers.   Peter retired in March 1995 with a letter from one Kenneth Clarke (then Chancellor). and comments from the Chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise from which I quote:-

‘you have been a key player in the VAT arena….especially your stewardship of the VAT Business Project 1988 to 1991 and your sterling work on the Single Market.  You have represented the UK with distinction on the EC VAT committee and the OECD on consumption taxes. Since joining the Department as an Unattached Officer in London South Collection you have deservedly progressed up the ladder….and have tackled all the jobs assigned to you with diligence, determination and great skills…..we are grateful for the personal qualities you have shown.’

Peter married Gill Evans in April 1963.  He had kept a complete set of photos from the wedding and they looked quite a couple.

They lived together in, amongst other places, Southampton, Thorpe Bay, Essex, Edgebaston, Esher and Weybridge  before separating in the mid-eighties.   Peter remained very much part of the families of his sisters in law Judy and Jane and was included in, and much welcomed at, various family gatherings

(Sarah) I remember my first job which was with a containerised shipping company. I was sent to Tilbury docks for two days to learn the practicalities, and rather than staying in a hotel, Peter invited me to stay. I was a little apprehensive, but we had a really lovely couple of evenings together – wide ranging conversation, a few laughs and easy company (not forgetting the delicious food and a few glasses of his excellent wine!)

(Sarah) Alan Prowse, my father, here today, married Gill’s eldest sister, Judy, and probably knows Peter best of all of us since they often met through the sisters, and continued to do so when first one, and then both, became widowers.  They would stay with each other roughly monthly, and Alan recalled Peter being a very good cook, (and after supper they would sit eating too many chocolates and toffees!

Alan’s comments:-

‘He was a nice man, and highly intelligent.  I saw him on the Thursday, two days before his final illness. He was better than I had seen him for some time. As always, he had read the Times that day from cover to cover, and we could talk about anything. He was the last of my elderly men friends with whom you could have full conversations. His last words to me were “Thanks for coming Alan, I always enjoy our conversations” Nice to remember him by.”

(Rebecca) Doreen Davis remembers Peter after he retired and the huge contribution he made to the Customs & Excise retirement association, for twenty years of being a major force in the "Federation of C &E Staff Associations". Chairman for 12 years, he excelled at getting people together from local branches and was a joy to work with. He certainly kept the organisation going for longer than it would have done had he not been in charge.

Peter enjoyed cars, travel and photography.  My brother remembers them arriving very glamorously to stay for a visit with our parents in a racing green MG, and Rosemary, wife of his best man Roger Knight, remembers him going on car rallies where they used to belt around in Minis with few cares in the world…

Janet Slatter remembers Peter’s time as a young man in London noting how good looking he was, dashing around in his sports car

Peter could appear to be formal, but as Caroline, daughter of Peter’s cousin Chris (who is here today) commented:-

‘My first impressions of Uncle Peter were that of a rather stiff and rather formal gentleman, and it wasn't really until I met him on my last visit that I really got to know him a little better.  Searching around in my mind, I thought of topics that might interest him, and so plucked out my first thought about how our recent political climate has made the tax situation quite "interesting," I could have used other words.  (Insufferable comes to mind).   My brother piped up.  "Caroline how can tax be interesting?" looking at me with sheer exasperation but Peter defended me, ‘tax is interesting, it controls everything you do, what houses you can afford, how you live and how much you pay for your food’. Being in a cheery mood, I offered to buy a round of drinks, my brother, having kindly paid for my food.   My uncle looked over, a gleam in his brown eyes, and asked for a triple!  I laughed, from that visit my idea of who my uncle was completely changed, I now saw a mischievous man, with a great sense of humour.   Despite his recent issues he seemed to have enormous energy, I will think of him cruising the world, cocktail in hand, with a wry smile on his face.’ 

(Sarah) Peter loved travel, especially cruises which were an important part of his life. He had albums filled with his memories, and a box of these will be at The Withies for you to browse through. His favourite cruises were in warm climates and he took a tan very well.  In the last 18 months, he stayed in the marvellous care home, Bramshott Place. With the prospect of a cruise to go on, he noticeably perked up, and started a programme of exercises to help him get out of a wheelchair. A very determined man.

Peter met many people with whom he stayed in touch on these cruises. 

One of these, Jenny Burt, remarked

‘My husband John and I enjoyed several cruises together always enjoying his friendly personality, sense of humour and company. Good times out on day visits and many occasions around the ships.’

Vivienne Wright first met Peter on a cruise in 2013.  She commented

‘He gave me the confidence to travel far and wide but still be independent. I always felt safe when he was on board with me knowing that if a crisis occurred, he would be there and fix it. He was that sort of man and nothing seemed to faze him, even when he got thrown off the ship (his words) in Melbourne, spending three weeks in hospital with pneumonia and eventually getting himself home, all at the start of covid.

(Rebecca) To add to that story, Sarah was telephoned by Peter’s friend Jennifer from Bramshott, who advised “Peter’s gone missing”. To cut a long story short, Sarah got hold of P&O Cruises, who confirmed Peter was no longer on board having been medically discharged in Melbourne, but who could offer no further insight into where he was. Cue a Google search of “hospitals in Melbourne”, several phone calls to locate the exact hospital and a conversation with Peter who said he was mighty cross to have been sent off the ship and was hoping to reboard!! He was flown home – but what optimism!

Vivienne recalled Peter loved to be at sea, “on sea days I always knew where to find him, he would be sitting with his glass of Speckled Hen Beer reading his book.  By night, he liked nothing better than meeting in each other’s cabins to enjoy a large G&T before going to dinner.  He was good fun, however sometimes he could be a little naughty commenting on the various people around us and you certainly did see some on the ship, we would both be in fits of laughter”

(Sarah) Peter had no end of health problems throughout his life, starting in childhood when he had TB and he spent some time in a sanatorium, He also had a cerebral tumour and would comment quite casually that he had had part of his brain removed! 

He also had ankylosing spondylitis, but as far as any visitors were concerned, he never complained and was always delighted to see you and he remained cheerful despite those health issues.

Of particular note was the surgery Peter endured when he suffered a broken neck. Two operations, both mind blowingly awful. Rebecca visited him in hospital often and his stoicism and desire to recover were an inspiration.

He had a headcage during recovery which you will have seen on the rolling pictures at the beginning. In the period before and after those operations Peter stayed at Badingham Drive where he was cared for by Alan and Judy.

I think the lesson he can teach all of us is not to complain about not feeling well!

(Rebecca) Peter’s relative Jonathan Bosker (Chris’ son), (who lives in Australia) recently saw him on a Christmas visit, and recalls ‘Even up to the last time we met him, he still had a twinkle in his eye, and he always seemed amused with life.  He was kind, and not judgmental.  His goal for 2025 was to get back to walking without assistance. He never gave up and was joking about how he was one of the few guys in the home, with lots of ladies.’

He was quite a character in his care home.  Annabelle the activities coordinator said:-

‘Peter was our star quizzer each week.  He knew all the answers.  The other residents and I always used to joke that we were going to use the mini bus one evening and take him to enter Mastermind.  It was going to be a big night and he was going to definitely win and we were going to share all the winnings!  

(Sarah) Peter will be missed by all of us, and Nigel recalls his final words to him being “I’m ready to go, I’m not afraid of death’. 

We didn’t know this was quite so imminent but clearly he’d decided enough was enough and it was time to draw the curtain on his life. 

Much as we are about to do now in saying goodbye.

(Rebecca and Sarah together) Peter, enjoy your next cruise!