This tribute by his son Jeremy was read by him at his funeral.
Peter Crichton 1924-2001
On behalf of the Crichton family I would like everyone for coming here today to pay respect to my father Peter Crichton.
En nombre de la Familia Crichton quiero darles las gracias por su presencia aquí en homenaje a mi padre Peter Crichton.
Unassuming man that my father was, he would have been immensely proud of the number of friends who have graced their presence in this house of God to bid him farewell on his last adventure. I say adventure because in the eyes Dad’s life has been one big adventure. The exotic places that he has lived in, the different projects and jobs he has been involved in and all the wonderful people he has crossed paths with during his lifetime. The amazing thing is that it’s a life fully documented, as he has written a diary every day of his life since the age of seventeen, starting with his freshman’s year at Trinity College, Oxford. What a great read that’s going to be.
I remember telling all my mates at boarding school how dad flew fighter planes during World War II, how he was the only gringo living in a two bit town in the depths of Peru working as a Station Master for the Peruvian Railways, how he then went to start up a farm in the middle of the African savannah. Can you imagine it, as a young lad this was like Boy’s Own adventure book stuff! It also gave my brother Mark and I no end of playground credibility.
But no… it was life as Dad lived it and we felt so proud.
Today is an occasion when we can look back on his life, celebrate his achievements and reflect on what part he played in each of our lives. Most of you here are probably aware that our family arrived in Andorra way back in the early seventies and right from the outset Dad became an important part of the fledgling English community, being one of the founding members of the St. George’s English church. Dad was active in helping new arrivals get settled in, especially with the regards to communicating with the local authorities. He spoke very good Spanish.
I am sure he will be fondly remembered by both the English community as well as the Andorran Community, amongst whom he established some great friendships.
So we talk about achievements and milestones in Dad’s life. None being more spectacular in my view than his ability to win the heart of the lady who he was blessed him with 44 years of love and companionship, his wife and our mother Caroline. Your rich and fulfilled lives together, mum, is testimony to the enduring and uncompromising love dad felt for you and he is no doubt looking down now saying, … boy didn’t I do well!
He always claimed that you agreed to marry him because of his smooth, suave sophistication but I’d put it down to the Brylcremed hair and the magical effect of a certain dog eared photo of him standing next to his fighter plane, dashing in his billowing white scarf. How could a lady resist such an advance.
I believe dads legacy here on Earth lies woven in the great friendships he has made, it lies in the family he has left, a loving wife and two boys who are living life with the same adventurous zeal as he did all his life.
His legacy also lives on into the future with the arrival of his first grandchild, Bianca born 9 weeks ago. It would be the single most tragic aspect of Dads passing that he was only 9 days away from holding wee little Bianca, in his arms. He was so looking forward to it and he had made a special effort to get fit before our arrival.
It just wasn’t to be Dad…, but I want you to know that she is the spitting image of you, …. a fact that fills my heart with join at the thought that your memory lives on, etched in beautiful features of my darling daughter’s face.
We love you Dad and wish you well on your last great adventure
Jeremy Crichton – published in the Inter-Comm October 2001
