Remembering Jockey Bill Peter Various December 2020
Getting to Selwyn Hall after Box Church (photo courtesy Griselda Davey)
Davey Daughters: Griselda, Anne and Clare
We three Davey daughters learned to ride with Bill Peter. At one time, his stables were at the end of the Ashley Road just before it joins the A4, and at another time, in Mill Lane at the bottom of the hill below the Post Office. Riding often took us up to Kingsdown and was an excellent way to see the countryside. Griselda and Anne were fortunate in having Bill Peter drive us to
St Thomas à Becket Church from Ashley Croft on our wedding days.
Griselda remembered when her father, Dr Jim, and she were on their way to the church in Bill's handsome Brougham drawn by his immaculately turned out horse. They were suddenly overtaken by a holidaymaker returning home who stopped ahead of them and filmed the carriage approaching the village. Quite an unusual event for 1973.
We three Davey daughters learned to ride with Bill Peter. At one time, his stables were at the end of the Ashley Road just before it joins the A4, and at another time, in Mill Lane at the bottom of the hill below the Post Office. Riding often took us up to Kingsdown and was an excellent way to see the countryside. Griselda and Anne were fortunate in having Bill Peter drive us to
St Thomas à Becket Church from Ashley Croft on our wedding days.
Griselda remembered when her father, Dr Jim, and she were on their way to the church in Bill's handsome Brougham drawn by his immaculately turned out horse. They were suddenly overtaken by a holidaymaker returning home who stopped ahead of them and filmed the carriage approaching the village. Quite an unusual event for 1973.
Bill at Ashley Croft (courtesy Davey daughters)
Private Contribution
The best friend I ever knew was William James Peter (aka Mr Bill Peter) who lived up Box Hill, near Clift Mine entrance somewhere and following this he lived in a caravan at Lower Ashley Stables. He was such a character with his horsedrawn carriage, fronted by Big Tom, the grey Irish Draught. Everyone knew Bill. He would often ride around the village for miles with that horse and it was nothing for him to do a circuit to Ditteridge, Marshfield, The Shoe, Box Hill and back to Ashley in a summer's evening. Bill would often visit pubs on the circuit and the horse grew to understand that red traffic lights meant wait and use its own initiative.
The best friend I ever knew was William James Peter (aka Mr Bill Peter) who lived up Box Hill, near Clift Mine entrance somewhere and following this he lived in a caravan at Lower Ashley Stables. He was such a character with his horsedrawn carriage, fronted by Big Tom, the grey Irish Draught. Everyone knew Bill. He would often ride around the village for miles with that horse and it was nothing for him to do a circuit to Ditteridge, Marshfield, The Shoe, Box Hill and back to Ashley in a summer's evening. Bill would often visit pubs on the circuit and the horse grew to understand that red traffic lights meant wait and use its own initiative.
Pauline Paradise Nearly Came a Cropper
I saw the photos of Bill Peter with great interest. For a while, he had a young man working for him called Mike Fraying. I knew Mike and met him one day at Boxfields where I lived. Mike was riding a rather splendid chestnut horse, part-bred Arab and I begged Mike to let me ride. Mike was not happy but with my charm I persuaded him. We were on the field skirting the Boxfields Road going for a good ride up to the RAF playing field. Mike said to take the horse quietly and don't gallop him. Well, I was about 14 and what a silly thing to say to me. The horse had been worked in, having come from Swainswick, and, once I got the feel of him, we were off. Marvellous! However, at the top of the field, the area was fenced off (now by barb wire). The horse saw the fence before I did, turned sharply to the right, and I was off, landing on top of the fence. I cut the inside of my leg, quite badly, but being a brave (foolish) young lady, caught the horse, mounted up and rode back to Mike at bottom of the field. He was very angry, shouting Bill will go mad. The lovely saddle was dripping with blood and I never found out how Mike got on. I still get the scares thinking about it and I'm 86 now! But I still remember the wind in my hair on that ride, what a thrill. I would not have missed it for the world.
I saw the photos of Bill Peter with great interest. For a while, he had a young man working for him called Mike Fraying. I knew Mike and met him one day at Boxfields where I lived. Mike was riding a rather splendid chestnut horse, part-bred Arab and I begged Mike to let me ride. Mike was not happy but with my charm I persuaded him. We were on the field skirting the Boxfields Road going for a good ride up to the RAF playing field. Mike said to take the horse quietly and don't gallop him. Well, I was about 14 and what a silly thing to say to me. The horse had been worked in, having come from Swainswick, and, once I got the feel of him, we were off. Marvellous! However, at the top of the field, the area was fenced off (now by barb wire). The horse saw the fence before I did, turned sharply to the right, and I was off, landing on top of the fence. I cut the inside of my leg, quite badly, but being a brave (foolish) young lady, caught the horse, mounted up and rode back to Mike at bottom of the field. He was very angry, shouting Bill will go mad. The lovely saddle was dripping with blood and I never found out how Mike got on. I still get the scares thinking about it and I'm 86 now! But I still remember the wind in my hair on that ride, what a thrill. I would not have missed it for the world.
Natalie Grace Campbell Wrote
I remember Mr Peter(s) when he had the stables in Ashley. I always thought that there was a 's' on the end of the surname.
Mr Peter(s) taught my mother (Elaine Campbell nee Boughton) to ride. The yard is obviously used by Emery's now for storage of building material. I believe that the yard was originally the stables for Ashley Manor - at least that is what I was brought up to understand. I remember his carriage too, being allowed to look at it in the shed where it was stored in Ashley.
I remember Mr Peter(s) when he had the stables in Ashley. I always thought that there was a 's' on the end of the surname.
Mr Peter(s) taught my mother (Elaine Campbell nee Boughton) to ride. The yard is obviously used by Emery's now for storage of building material. I believe that the yard was originally the stables for Ashley Manor - at least that is what I was brought up to understand. I remember his carriage too, being allowed to look at it in the shed where it was stored in Ashley.