Peter Scates (10 Feb 1935 - 28 Jan 2022)

In loving memory of Peter Scates who sadly passed away on 28th January 2022
Peter, or Pete as many knew him, was born in February 1935. He grew up in Bury St Edmunds and was educated at Culford School just outside the town - an establishment for which he held much affection and remained involved with up until the end of his life. It was there that his lifelong love of cricket first became apparent.
Leaving school shortly after completing the last round of school certificate - meaning he was briefly in the sixth form by age 14 - he began work in the Borough Offices in Bury where he was employed until National Service came calling in 1953. He also enjoyed this period of his life, being stationed at Martlesham Heath and his two sons spent their early years under the strong impression that their Dad had been a cold war fighter pilot!
After National Service Pete began a career with Lloyds Bank where he stayed until his retirement in the early 1990s.
This role initially saw him working in Yorkshire until he returned to his roots to marry Myra at St Johns Church in Bury in March 1961.
First son David arrived in October 1962 nine months after a particularly significant victory by the football team he followed, Ipswich Town, in their triumphant march to the old first division championship.
In 1966 a second son Christopher was born just as Peter was about to receive a further promotion, one which would bring him to Stowmarket for the first time. England gave him a perfect excuse to wet the baby's head a week or so later by conveniently winning the football world cup
As well as his sojourn in Yorkshire, the banking industry also afforded Peter something of an East Anglian tour as he spent time in Haverhill, Cambridge, Diss, Stowmarket (twice) Kings Lynn and Wisbech.
Working hard at his career to build a good life for his family didn't prevent Peter from enjoying an active life outside the Bank. He played cricket extensively, as well as becoming a member of the MCC in the mid 80s (Many reading this will have fond memories, some of them hazy, of days out at Lords with Pete followed by lively evenings eating Chinese in the West End ) He also played a good standard of table tennis and was Suffolk senior champion on one occasion. He came relatively late to the game of Golf only playing regularly once he retired, possibly to Myra's relief as it spared her from his helpful housekeeping tips.
Aside from work, sports and family, Peter was committed to the village church in Harleston and to his Christian beliefs. He undertook several honorary roles for good causes such as SSAFA and was a willing fund raiser with Rotary and 41 club, organisations where he also had many friends and shared just as many good times.
Much of his "spare" time was spent either in the Garden where he produced not only colourful displays of flowers but a variety of interesting shaped vegetables as well or, since 2004, indulging his beloved grandchildren Ellen and William
Peters life was a full one. He found time and excuse to travel quite extensively and could count California, New York, Brazil, The Far East, Australia, The West Indies (Oz and the Windies being for cricket) France, Italy, The Mediterranean islands and a once in a lifetime trip on the Trans Siberian Express amongst his experiences. Slightly more mundane but still the envy of many Peter, through knowing the right people in the Norfolk FA, was able to attend virtually every FA Cup final from the early 1980s to around 2012. He also saw Ipswich win the FA cup in 1978 in the company of his brother Russell and The UEFA cup in Amsterdam three years later.
In the last couple of years of his life Peter didn't enjoy consistently good health but always seemed to bounce back from illnesses with a dogged and sometimes slightly unwise determination not to give into, or even acknowledge, the tribulations of old age.
His final illness however sent down an unplayable delivery which evaded his usually solid defences and he returned to the pavilion on 28th Jan 2022, finally given out on a score of 86, achieved in an admirable and varied innings .