The Recent Passing of Peter Michell – Cornish Pirates Legend

By Phil Westren

Peter Michell, who passed away at the end of October, aged 90, was a much-respected Penzance man, and at his funeral service held in Madron Church in November there was a not surprisingly large gathering.

Peter’s daughter, Alison Haggett, addressed those present at the funeral, plus she read out the following obituary compiled by David Mann, who was a close friend of Peter’s.

‘The Pirates of Penzance, the well-known comic opera by W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan, has the alternative title, “The Slave of Duty”.  Coincidentally, Peter Michell captained “The Pirates of Penzance & Newlyn” for three seasons. Peter was certainly no slave, but he held a strong sense of duty which was evident throughout his life. This sense of duty was important to Peter and figured prominently in all the teams, clubs, and organisations with which he was associated.

Peter James Bennett Michell was born in Penzance on the 23^rdJuly 1933 to a loving, caring and very supportive family. His happy childhood was spent with his parents and two sisters, June and Anne, at their home, “Mythyon”, in Heamoor. Early school days were spent at St. Erbyn’s, a prep school in Penzance, under the watchful eye of the Headmaster, Mr. Rex Carr, where the essentials of self-discipline, courtesy and good sportsmanship were taught, along with the ‘three Rs’.  It was, therefore, on the tiny, sloping pitch at St. Erbyn’s that Peter first discovered an aptitude for games, and especially rugby football.

At the age of 12, Peter moved to his father’s old school, Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire. His years at Wycliffe were happy and fulfilling, so much so that he maintained contact and visited the school for reunions for many years. Peter’s sporting talents developed rapidly there, to the extent that he became captain of both rugby and cricket. He also represented the school at tennis and was school doubles champion.

It was clear that Peter was a fine all-round sportsman, but it was a rugby football that he excelled. His emerging talent, was soon recognised through selection as captain of the Cornwall Public & Grammar Schools XV, leading later in that season of 1951 to a final England under 18 trial.

Thus began, what was to become, an illustrious rugby career encompassing 525 games for ‘The Pirates’, 60 games for Cornwall, caps for The Army and Territorial Army XVs, and perhaps the ultimate honour in 1960 when he captained the combined Cornwall & Devon XV against the 5^th South African “Springboks”.

Rugby Football played such an important part in Peter’s early life, that I hope you will forgive a more detailed look at those years. On leaving Wycliffe in July 1951, Peter returned to Penzance to join his father in the family jewellery business. In the September of that year, at the tender age of 18, he was selected to play for “The Pirates” 1^st XV, thenceforward, he became an automatic choice for the next 15 years and included three seasons as captain.

In 1953, however, duty called again, as this time Peter was summoned for National Service. Commissioned in the DCLI, 2^nd Lieutenant Michell enjoyed a not too arduous two years playing for the Army XV followed by a year in The West Indies…Some posting! I am sure Peter relished his time in the Army, the ordered life, the discipline, the camaraderie, and not forgetting the sense of duty which would have appealed to him. So, after National Service, he joined the TA, and served for 17 years, rising to the rank of Major. As in all his undertakings, he was totally committed and gave fully of his time.

Peter pictured in the West Indies during his National Service.

Returning to Penzance in 1955, Peter settled back into the business as a partner with Mr. Tom Michell. Although fully committed to his role in the business, Peter was able to pursue his sporting careers thanks to the kindly indulgence of his father. His reputation as a fine scrum half was growing rapidly and selection for the Cornwall XV became automatic. In those far off days, it was considered a great honour to wear the black and gold shirt and many thrilling encounters were enjoyed against old foes, Devon, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Cornwall regularly fielded as many as four England internationalists and Trialists and the County Championship was considered so important that huge crowds flocked to the home matches. What a thrill it was to play in front of 15,000 fanatical supporters at Redruth or Camborne!

Peter is captain of this 1959-60 Pirates team.

Once again, the qualities of duty and leadership emerged, and Peter was invited to captain the Cornish side for both the 1959-60 and 1960-61 seasons. Also, when the selectors came to choose the combined Cornwall & Devon teams to play South Africa in 1960, Canada in 1962 and New Zealand in 1963, there was only one choice at scrum half….

Playing for Cornwall, Peter is about to make a dive pass versus Lancashire at Redruth in the 1958 County Championship semi-final.

Whilst rugby football occupied a large slice of his life in the winter, Peter turned to tennis in the summer. A member of the Penzance Tennis Club, he won the club singles championship from 1957 to 1961, captained the club in 1960-61, played over fifty times for Cornwall, again captaining the side, and along with his lifelong friend, Keith Songhurst, won the County Doubles Championship four years in a row.

An introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh, young Peter is the player pictured fourth left.

Life was very full and hectic, but Peter still found time to court and later, in 1968, marry Miss Margaret Hepworth who lived on the Isles of Scilly and was the niece of Barbara Hepworth, the famous sculptress. Peter and Margaret were blessed with a daughter, Alison, who went on to achieve great success as a Research Fellow at Exeter University. Sadly, the marriage ended in divorce in 1980. ‘PJB’ would later, in 1985, marry Ann Parker, whose two sons, Grant and Graham, were also welcomed to Peter’s home at Rosehill. He was very supportive of the two boys and remained in close contact after Ann’s sadly premature death in 1994.

Beyond his sporting achievements, Peter led a very active life in the community. He was appointed JP to the Penzance Bench in 1971, where he served for thirty years and was appointed Chairman from 1994 to 1996. Like his many other involvements, he approached this duty with the same conscientiousness – and soon earned a great reputation for sound judgement and fairness.

From 2001 to 2003, when retired, Peter was appointed Chairman of the Cornwall Magistrates Association and before that he was appointed General Commissioner of Income Tax, a position he held for 36 years.

One would imagine that Peter had more than enough on his plate, but in addition to his business and magistrate’s duties, he still found time to accept the Chairmanship of the West Cornwall Light Infantry Association for 25 years, the Trusteeship of the DCLI,  Cottage homes, a Governorship of Bolitho School, the administrator of the Emily Bolitho Trust, committee member of Cornwall Playing Fields Association for 30 years, and Chairman of the Cornish Buildings Group.

Perhaps the appointment he particularly treasured was election as    President of the Cornwall Rugby Football Union from 2003 to 2006. Peter was greatly honoured by this election, which he undertook with typical dedication. Duty bound, he made it his aim to visit all the clubs in Cornwall where he was always welcomed, held in high regard, and appreciated.

We have covered most of Peter’s full and active life, a very impressive record indeed. But what of the man? What was he really like? Most people here today knew him well and I hope you will agree that Peter Michell was a modest man, always polite and courteous, always immaculately dressed, extremely sociable and at ease in any company. He was loyal, steadfast, tolerant, good company and, with a good sense of humour.

He was a good friend, RIP.’

Mourners attending the funeral were:

Jane Stevens (also representing Roger Hosken, Matt & Julia Hopson, Geoff Vingoe, Juliet Shore)

Jeff & Sarah Rowe (also representing Rebekah & Family, Emma & Sam, Mr & Mrs Favell Briggs, Penny Batten (Newlyn Fisherman’s Mission)

Ken Weeks (also representing Mr & Mrs A Stephens)

Stephen Hurrell (also representing David & Claire Hosken)

Paul Hurrell (also representing Hayle Rugby Club)

David Townend (also representing Tehidy Park Management)

Trevor Bennetts

Godfrey Paul

Christine Martin

Jean Richards (also representing Sir John & Lady Nott, Mr & Mrs Paul Richards)

Gary Stuart (also representing Barbara Bradley)

Peter James (also representing Richard Simeons, Camborne RFC)

Peter & Penny Uren

Stephen Tyrrell

Colin Dymond (also representing Yvonne Dymond)

Tinks Youngson (also representing Jenny Coslett, Jenny Salmon)

Judith Marshall (also representing Geoff Marshall)

Angela Tresidder

John & Leonie Skewes

Sarah Hayes

Christine Richards

Demelza Fletcher

Ray Best

Rabi Visvalingham

Keith Songhurst

Mr & Mrs Tim Le Grice (also representing Mr & Mrs Christopher Perkins)

Mrs Sowerby

Mary Doggrell

Jim Saulter (also representing Barbara Saulter)

Paul Miles

Hilda Laity

Simon Laity (also representing Sue & Angus Gaudie)

John & Rosemary Simpson (also representing Valerie Hall)

Eddie Fletcher (also representing The Fisherman’s Mission)

Robin & Sandra Porter (also representing The Fisherman’s Mission)

Valerie Pill

Wendy Luke

Margaret Daniel

Angela Agutter Thomas (also representing Ian & Jane Halford, Margaret Heather

Sue Robertshaw

Elizabeth Rickard

Ivan Rowe

Felicity Mason

John & Felicity Richards

John & Liz Anderson

Ian Clark

Debbie Worthington

Mr & Mrs Jimmy Glover

David Mann (also representing Elizabeth Mann, David Roberts, Diana Kelynack)

Julian Waring (also representing The Fishman’s Mission)

Mr & Mrs Bidwell (also representing The Light Infantry Association)

Tim & Diana Wayne

Christopher Jelbert

Matthew Brooks

Julie Bryant (also representing Lady Frances Banham)

Mike Mills (also representing Roger Pascoe)

Dale & Jennifer Haggett

Terry & Wendy Drew (also representing Penzance & Newlyn RFC)

Andrew & Veryan Pool

Malcolm Pilcher (also representing Ann Pilcher)

Mr & Mrs Des Hosken (also representing Penzance Rotary Club, Mr & Mrs Roger Freeman)

Steve Murley (also representing Cornwall RFU & St Austell RFC)

John & Sue White

Terry Luke

Graham Martin (also representing the DCLI)

Jeremy & Caroline Hooper (also representing Cade & Liz Williams)

Barry Cornish (also representing Peter Rule, Keith Mannings)

Tracey Sainsbury

Terry Carter

Alan Milliner (also representing Cornwall RFU & England RFU)

Diane Thomas

Brian & Michelle Nicholson (also representing Kevin & Nicola Thomas)

Mr & Mrs Graham Paul

Erika Hewett

Roger Dugdale

Margaret Noy

Elizabeth Grey-Noy (also representing Edgar Noy)

Nobby Clarke (also representing the DCLI)

Margaret Clarke (also representing DCLI Ladies)

Mandy Burt

Peter Scrase (also representing Christine Scrase)

Stephen Bennetts

Jeremy & Sarah Brudenell

Roger Cargeeg JP (also representing Anita George JP)

Mr & Mrs F Bennett (Robertson’s Jewellers, Launceston)

Mrs M Marsh (Robertson’s Jewellers, Launceston)

Mr S Robertson (Robertson’s Jewellers, Launceston)

Donald & Madeline Main

Roy & Mollie Angove

Julia Bryant (also representing Robin Bryant)

Mark Keast (also representing Donald Keast)

Mr & Mrs Phil Westren (also representing Stuart & Joy Michell, Dicky Evans, The Kendall-Carpenter Family)

Kyle Luke (also representing Cordell, Cameron & Tabitha Luke)

Mary Cahill

Brian Venn

Mike Dale (also representing The Fisherman’s Mission)

Paul Durkin (also representing Penzance & Newlyn RFC)

Melanie Esdale (also representing Lodge & Thomas)

Adele Jewell (also representing Mr & Mrs B Jewell, Tamsin Murley)

Dr & Mrs John Ryan (also representing Atlantic Medical Group)

Deborah Wingfield (also representing H V Wingfield FRCS, Jean Wingfield, Esther Dunstan)

Julie Noy-Bailey

Gabrielle Reynolds (also representing Barry Reynolds)

Sue Wilkinson (also representing Tim, Louise & Annabelle Smart)

Unable to Attend

Eustace Eddy

George & Margaret Stone