Peter E Naylor (1929-2005)

(Note – This summary is written by his son Michael Naylor and links to various chapters of his life which were written by Peter in his late 60s and early 70s)

Peter Ernest Naylor was born on 17th Aug 1929 in Bourne End.

He went to kindergarten in Bourne End.

Moved to Cookham Dean in approx 1937. The house in Cookham Dean was Little Mount.
(see The Early Years)

Went to St.Pirans School, Maidenhead, Berks.
(see Prep School Years)

2nd World War. Father Philip Naylor was working for ICI and ICI lent him to the Ordnance Factory in Bridgend, Wales to head the factory there making Naval shells.

The Gummers came and stayed at Little Mount during the war so that refugees did not live in the house. The Gummers were friends from Ealing. There is a story of the Naylors and Gummers going shooting for pheasant in Ealing!

Dean Cottage (Cookham Dean Bottom, Cookham Dean, SL6 9AR) was rented in 1940 and Little Mount rented to Jews. Gummers built a house in Cookham Dean after the war.

By Christmas 1940 in Wales. In a farm house in Southerndown. Morgans on the corner as you go down to Southerdown. Moved to a rented cottage in Ogmore-on-sea / Southerndown – Llancarreg – on top on drop down to the beach.

Journeys to Wales meant that Peter needed to leave St Pirans a day early to get from Maidenhead.

Peter then went to Radley (G Social Morgans, 1943-1947). At Radley he was a Prefect, rowed in the 1st VIIIs of 1946 and 1947 and was a member of the rugby XV of 1947.  His brother Michael dies in a Mosquito plane crash and is sadly missed. (note Michael Naylor had a girlfriend who was working a Dunravan Castle Military Hospital. They were nearly engaged when Michael died. Enid kept in contact with her for a long time.)
(see Radley Years – Part 1 and Part 2)

Family move back to Little Mount, Cookham Dean before VE day 1945. His father Philip goes back to work at ICI.

Little Mount put on the market 1950 as it was too big for the Naylors (Philip and Enid) – it was just before the Korean War – and so could not be sold as a result. Eventually moved in 1951/52. During all this time they had been going down to Wales and had discovered the Usk valley.

Dennis was by then a vet a Llanidloes. Dennis was engaged to an Admirals daughter working as a shepard on PenP (mountain) – the source of the Severn and Wye rivers.
The family started going down to Llandydir to fish. Weekend of the Arham airdrop 1994 (note: Julian Mellis’ father in law was a tank man and organised all the armoured vehicles in the film a dridge to far.)

Philip and Enid used to stay in the Red Lion in Llandydir. Then started going to the Coach and Horses. Then found the Gliffith hotel on the Usk and started going there. Then found Cilwych – rented as a weekend cottage – house is between Bwlch and River Usk.

Peter leaves Radley in 1947.  It was the Radley Centenary and people stayed on as did Peter for 1 more term to try and get a scholarship to Cambridge. Postponed National Service.

Did not get scholarship and joined National service in Feb 1947 – Liverpool. Went to N. Ireland. As he was a wireless operator at school the was moved from the Infantry in N. Ireland to the tank regiment at Catterick Yorkshire. 8th RTR – Royal Tank Regiment. Became a wireless operator in tanks. Worked with the instructor training other as he knew it all. 3-4 months there. Put before the New Officer Selection Board. WOSB. Gained commission. In July went to Aldershot as an Officer Cadet.

Following his National Service – including time in Malaya – Peter went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, was awarded an Honorary Exhibition and rowed in the winning Henley Ladies’ Plate crew of 1951 and the Visitors’ crew of 1952.

He became an Agricultural Economist

Worked for Huntings Surveys in Iraq where he met Sarah.

Then went to Pakistan.

Bought house in the UK – 8 The Slype, Gustard Wood, Nr Wheathampstead, Herts, AL4 8RY.

Left Hunting Surveys in 196? and joined the World Bank.  Went to live in Washington DC, USA – Styversant Place.

Send to India and then Iran.  Back to Washington DC in 1979? to 4611 Yuma St, Washington DC, 20016.

He retired from the Bank in 1984.

Sarah died in 1989.

Remarried in 1999 to Jill Mellis (nee Taylor).

Died in Gale Cottage, Hammoon, Dorset, DT10 2DB, United Kingdom, on August 16, 2005.

4 thoughts on “Peter E Naylor (1929-2005)

  1. I have been delighted to find this website as your grandparents (Philip and Enid) rented Worcester Cottage in Llangynidr (with its fishing on the Usk) from my family in the late 50’s and 60s

    I was trying to find out their Christian names for a history I am writing up of our part of the village when I came across your website.

    • Hi
      I remember Worcester Cottage very well. Holidays by the river, my first trout (!), the bubbling noise of the river from the window upstairs, my father shooting a rabbit and having it for dinner, Gordon Price the local gilly visiting… I could go on. I have some pictures of the cottage somewhere if you would like (I think so anyway and happy to look)
      All the best
      Michael

      • Dear Michael

        How good to make contact! The first point that I would be delighted to resolve is the year in which your grandparents took Worcester Cottage. Can you work this out?

        My parents made some notes about the arrangement – saying what a happy one it was from their viewpoint – but do not give a date for the start (or the end). I remember your grandparents living in the bungalow by the canal

        • Dear Michael

          I wonder if my second email (the one above) reached you? Any views on the start of their occupation of Worcester Cottage would be very welcome indeed.

          best wishes

          John

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.