Local news
Peter Connellan - December 2015
Earlier this year we received the sad news that Peter Connellan, who had been an active member of the Association, had died on 17 January 2016. Until his recent retirement, Peter was for many years our Area Co-ordinator for the Association’s Claremont Avenue area.
The following article about Peter is taken from the article by David Hurst in the December 2015 issues of “Edgeways”, The Sacred Heart’s Parish Magazine.
The list of Peter’s roles and activities shows that both he (and his wife Mary) worked tirelessly for others, both within their local Parish of Sacred Heart and in the wider community.
Indeed they were both awarded the Pope’s Benemerenti Medal for long and exceptional services to the Catholic Church and, in their case, to Scouting and Guiding as well.
Married in 1951 at the Church of the Good Shepherd near Bromley (by Fr Rourke SJ), Peter knew his wife since childhood. In fact, it has been said that he was very nearly born in Mary’s parents’ house! We are also told that before becoming engaged Peter used to visit Mary regularly ‘travelling by 604 trolley, four trams and the 54 bus - and it cost just one shilling and sixpence’! Since then both of their lives have been ridiculously full and fulfilling.
Peter worked for BT (formerly the GPO) for 42 years, and in his spare time - amongst other activities - he was a Governor of two local schools, Treasurer of the Scientific Society, Secretary of the local Civic Society, Group Scout Leader of 19th Wimbledon Scouts, formerly 5th and 15th Wimbledon Scouts, as well as running the Sacred Heart Mass Centre.
Peter’s connection with the Raynes Park & West Barnes Residents’ Association spanned many years – indeed, as long as any of us can remember - as both Area Co-Ordinator for the Claremont Avenue area, and a Committee Member, retiring only very recently, when his health and that of Mary’s, forced him to do so.
Mary was equally dedicated. She was a founder member and vice chair of the National Federation of Credit Unions, treasurer for the local Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme, chair of the Women’s Sodality Group and secretary for the Wimbledon Scout District for which she received a Medal of Merit for Services to Scouting. Mary also received the Mayor of Merton’s Community Award in 1994.
Just last July Mary and Peter were honoured at a school leaver’s mass and handed a special icon of the Sacred Heart with Peter’s name on the Heart of Jesus to thank him for running the school’s Mass Centre for so many years
We offer Mary and the couple’s family of seven children, our heartfelt condolences on their loss, and our grateful thanks for Peter’s life and all he has done for the local community.
