Stanley Peters, who worked in Covent Gardens old and new for 50 years, died on 17 February at the age of 65.
Stan started as an office boy for Geo Monroe Ltd in King Street in 1959, with the relatively luxurious start time of 7am, but was soon working much earlier, having been promoted to junior salesman in 1961. He left to work for commission agent Billy Hawking in 1964 and then spent a year as a buyer for another commission agent, Brian Kerr, in 1969.
In 1970, still at the old market, Stan joined Bevington Ltd as a salesman and moved to the new market in 1974 in this position, before becoming a director of Victor Torfs Ltd from 1978 until 1998. From that date until his retirement due to illness in 2008, he returned to the Bevington fold, now renamed as Bevington Salads Ltd.
Bevington Salads owner Gary Marshall said: “I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Stan and he was the most sincere, honest and loyal man I have ever come across. He was one of the old school, a true gentleman, and he will be greatly missed by all in the trade.”
Another of Stan’s colleagues at Bevington Salads, Jim Watts, added: “I worked with Stan for 10 years and he was unique. He was kind, gentle and compassionate and that’s what I’ll remember him for.”
Outside work, Stan was a lover of classical, jazz and popular music, a very good dancer and played darts, snooker and badminton. Starting in the 1970s, he broke the ice at many parties by performing a striptease. Of course, being the gent, he only stripped down to his (normally red) long johns. Son Greg remembers: “I still laugh when I remember starting my senior school being told that all of my new teachers had already met my dad at the school's barn dance, which was arranged for the parents of the new pupils.
“Dad definitely made an impression when halfway through the evening he appeared from behind the band to the music of The Stripper and proceeded to perform his act! As one teacher commented to me; “I have to say that’s the first time that’s ever happened’. I would guess it was probably the last as well!
“Dad believed in working and playing hard in equal measure and enjoyed his life, as did those who shared their lives with him,” said Greg.
Stan leaves his wife Margaret and two children who both followed him into the trade. Greg is the director of a fruit importer and Sonia is a florist. There are two grandchildren, James and Emily.
The funeral takes place this Friday at 11am, at North East Surrey Crematorium.
The family has asked that flowers are not sent and anyone wishing to pay their respects should donate monies to St Raphael’s Hospice in memory of Stanley Peters. The address is: St Raphael’s Hospice, FREEPOST 8916, London Rd, North Cheam, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9DX. The website is www.straphaels.org.uk
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