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Peter Gray-Lucas
Peter Gray-Lucas
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Peter Gray-Lucas Obituary
39 Entries
Sheila Costello
October 9, 2009
I first met Peter about 45 years ago when Susan and I were at school together in Maidstone. In those days he seemed to me to be a charming but slightly remote man but, as the years passed, I came to know him better and discovered that he was a thoughtful, amusing and intelligent friend who was interested in everything.
I valued my visits to him in Cambridge because there was always humour and stimulating conversation, accompanied by wine and smoked salmon. (I was tempted to put an exclamation mark here but I suspect Peter wouldn't approve.)
Despite his failing health, Peter was always hospitable and welcoming and never failed to be intellectually challenging. I will remember him with great affection; I know his death is a relief to him, but it is a loss to everyone who knew him.
Bruno and Eva Hake
October 7, 2009
To us, Peter was a dear friend and his passing away marks the end of an era. I first met Peter in 1974 when he translated my book “Hazards of Growth- how to succeed through company planning” for Longman publishers. As it turned out, the English version was better than the German original: Peter had that rare talent of bringing facts to the point with very few words.
Since that year, we met many times at Cambridge and corresponded frequently. He was always interested in the political and economic developments of the time. His February 2003 letter to Mrs. Campbell, the Cambridge Labor MP, announcing his intention to march with Steve and you protesting the Iraq war, showed his deep concern.
On our outings to Burgundy, Venice and Flanders, he opened our eyes for the architectural treasures of these regions. His credo that “a building has to make a statement” made us look differently at the castles and churches. Our lively discussions when we attended Lohengrin at Bayreuth and visited Glyndebourne showed that he was passionately fond of music, as did his frequent trips to Covent Garden.
When his sight had deteriorated seriously, he still kept up our correspondence for a few years using modern “gadgets” on his computer. For a while, he could still enjoy the classic German novels on the tapes we mailed him. It was good to hear from you that Peter passed away quietly while relaxing in his chair,not having to suffer through a long period of illness and pain.
During one of our visits at Cambridge, Eva admired the “ Anemone Japonica” in his little garden. So, on his next trip to Wiesbaden, he brought us a few twigs from his plants. They have grown very well and are blossoming right now, as if Peter was sending a message to all of us: “Do not grief, enjoy life”.
Please accept our sincere condolences during these days of mourning and also send these to the other members of Peter’s family.
Robyn Lucas
October 2, 2009
My Grandfather, Peter, was a truly exceptional man who I shall miss so very much. Every time I visited him he amazed me with his wit, humour, memory, intellect and kindness, and of course his excellent taste. My mother always calls him a genius, which I believe he was, but he was also the loveliest man you could hope to meet, a true gentleman with time (and champagne) for anybody and everybody. The way he could remember where absolutely everything was; the time and dates of upcoming visits or outings; the details of an article or news piece he had heard about (recently or not) that had relevance to our conversation, was incredible. That he was so able to keep on top of things going on in the outside world in his later years, from the latest scientific advancements to the immensely ‘depressing’ wars happening around the world astounded me, and he always kept up to date with academia, still having the London Review of Books delivered in paper format, which I read with pleasure.
Last year I had a fantastic trip to some of European cities that Peter so loved, something he was very keen for me to do. He was able to describe to me in astonishing detail the alter piece at St Mark’s in Venice, somewhere I will always be sorry I never got to visit with Peter, but somewhere which I fell in love with immediately and will forever be special to me because of him. I went to the opera in Vienna (I am sure he was sitting next to me in spirit!) and was amazed when he was able to explain the plot of Simon Boccanegra to me on my return better than I had understood it whilst watching; and of course, he remembered the rain in Strasburg as freshly as I did! I am so pleased we were able to share these things, but immensely sad that I will not be able to share any more.
He was so knowledgeable about just about everything, everywhere, and so keen to pass on to me some of this knowledge, he was my inspiration. I know it was a great source of pride to him that I am currently at Oxford studying Physics, I only hope I can do him proud. He was, and is, certainly a source of immense pride to me.
Tim Lucas
October 1, 2009
I’d like to say a few words, about my Grandfather, Peter who had a very positive
influence on my life.
He was a very knowledgeable and intellectual man, in many fields. One of my
earliest memories is of being in the kitchen of Alpha Road with him showing me the
thixotropic properties of tomato soup, how when you stir it and it comes to rest, it
springs back a bit. I often think about this when I am at work, designing structures
using an unusual material, though I haven’t built anything out of tomato soup yet.
He gave me two books, when I was about 9 or 10, which I still have, about
structures and the strength of materials. I don’t know if these were the only reason I
became an engineer, but they were certainly an influence, as was my first building
project, the Figerie in the garden of Alpha Road.
Much later when I graduated from university, he invited me to Venice where he
stayed during the summer of 1996. We arrived by train and Peter met us at the
station before walking us back to the flat through the dark streets and alleyways.
Peter wanted to show me Palladio, who’s sensible, proportioned, rigorous
approach to architecture, he far preferred to the stylistic an ostentatious Gothic.
I go back there with my family every two years both to be in Venice and also to visit
the Architecture Biennale exhibition, its nice to see a bit of Palladio at the same
time. I think part of my chat up to Jo was that my Grandfather had a flat in Venice!
It was a place he loved and I love it too.
A few years later, I missed his 80th birthday party at Saddlers Wells. I was in
Ireland and I was very proud that he has able to come to Dublin the day after to see
my millennium bridge being lifted into place. He was always very interested to hear
about what I was building.
Peter introduced me to many other things. I remember on first trying it, thinking how
anyone could like smoked salmon and champagne, but I got used to it. He invited
me to Glyndebourne, which I loved and where we try and go at least once a year.
So thank you Peter for sharing all that with me, and thank you for being happy for
me to name my eldest daughter, Rosalind Gray Lucas after you.
We share a lot genes and I am glad we got to share a lot of stuff in life. I am very
sad that you are gone, but I know that you’re very happy to be gone, and that’s the
thought I am going to take away with me today.
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Pat
October 1, 2009
Peter has been such a good neighbour over many years, always very thoughtful and forbearing, especailly about the garden and my ivy!
In earlier years his garden, which he designed, was a great inspiration to me and I used to show it to friends through the gaps in the hedge. What could be done with a small garden if one had the ideas. He was such a knowledgeable person but very unassuming.
Latterly I was so impressed with the way he could remember so much, in spite of his loss of sight and could always direct me exactly as to where things were when he needed help with voting forms etc.
It was sad to see him becoming less able and it was wonderful that he was able to stay in his home and that you returned from Kiev to this country.
He was someone with a great gift of friendship with people of all ages. I remember my cousin Barbie speaking about a cruise where they had met two very interesting men (one of whom turned out to be Peter) and equally how he charmed students from Link House when he met them.
He will be much missed. Neighbours and friends like that are rare.
Jane Vin Tenan Eidan
October 1, 2009
So sorry to hear about Peter's death. I hope you are bearing up OK.
Mr O'Dell
October 1, 2009
Our thoughts are with you at this very sad time. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Now Peter is at rest.
Nancy Smith
October 1, 2009
We are sorry for the sadness of the loss of your father but we are on the whole glad for Peter because he ahs had such a hard time recently.
Sally Bird
October 1, 2009
What a lovely, special man - both Christopher and I feel proud to hasve known him and sorry - with all our recent moving about that we had not been in touch. Whenever I went to Alpha Road he was so charming and never minded me being dim. Alpha Road will not be the same without him.
Angela
October 1, 2009
The loss of quality of liefe for such a witty character must have been a disagreeable malaise.
I will wish that the 'angels' will be singing an opera to his taste with a Gergiev type conductor.
Michael H Miller
October 1, 2009
It was only in the last few years that I got to know Peter. I used to look forward to our conversations over a bottle of wine when his fine intelligence and resourceful mind invariably resulted in interesting and thought-provoking comments, whatever subject we were disucssing. I shall remember him with great affection.
Alexis May
September 30, 2009
Peter was a lovely man. I remember many happy afternoons spent at Alpha Road during my childhood, eating smoked salmon and playing with Peter's Polaroid camera, which was a great source of excitement.
The last time I saw him, in April this year, we spent an extremely interesting evening discussing psycholinguistics, a subject which he had strong opinions about. As a linguistics student at the time, it was a very useful and challenging conversation to have. My only (purely selfish) regret is that I will not have the opportunity to continue it with Peter further.
Bruno and Eva Hake
September 27, 2009
Our thoughts were with Peter during the week. To us, he was a dear friend and his passing away marks the end of an era.
I first met Peter in 1974 when he translated my book “Hazards of Growth- how to succeed through company planning” for Longman publishers. As it turned out, the English version was better than the German original: Peter had that rare talent of bringing facts to the point with very few words.
Since that year, we met many times at Cambridge and corresponded frequently. He was always interested in the political and economic developments of the time. His February 2003 letter to Mrs. Campbell, the Cambridge Labor MP, announcing his intention to march with Steve and you protesting the Iraq war, showed his deep concern.
On our outings to Burgundy, Venice and Flanders, he opened our eyes for the architectural treasures of these regions. His credo that “a building has to make a statement” made us look differently at the castles and churches. Our lively discussions when we attended Lohengrin at Bayreuth and visited Glyndebourne showed that he was passionately fond of music, as did his frequent trips to Covent Garden.
When his sight had deteriorated seriously, he still kept up our correspondence for a few years using modern “gadgets” on his computer. For a while, he could still enjoy the classic German novels on the tapes we mailed him.
It was good to hear from you that Peter passed away quietly while relaxing in his chair,not having to suffer through a long period of illness and pain.
During one of our visits at Cambridge, Eva admired the “ Anemone Japonica” in his little garden. So, on his next trip to Wiesbaden, he brought us a few twigs from his plants. They have grown very well and are blossoming right now, as if Peter was sending a message to all of us: “Do not grief, enjoy life”.
Please accept our sincere condolences during these days of mourning and also send these to the other members of Peter’s family
Bettina & Ben
September 24, 2009
Our thoughts are with you during thses days. Having got to know your father bette in these last few years, we admired and will remember him for his poise and steadfast stoicism. We learned a lot from Peter and w'll miss him
Olwyn
September 24, 2009
I heard that Peter has died. He had been so brave about all his disabilities and tried never to complain but I think he was more than ready to go.
Still he will leave a gap in many lives - you I know had done so much to ease his last years.
I feel honoured to have known him and so appreciated his lovely manners and humour.
Martha
September 24, 2009
I have only got to know Peter during the last year of his life when we started working on his book project, which then turned into the 'pamphlet' a more manageable format. I got to know and appreciate his generous personality, his sharp mind and curiosity about life, his warm sense of humour. I will miss the hours of working with him. I wish to express my condolences and sincere sympathy at the loss of your father.
elfrida heath
September 23, 2009
Thank you Lindy for introducing me to Peter and thank you Peter for becoming my friend!
We met most weeks over the last three years and I never tired of his company. I was always pleased to hear Peter's friendly greeting as I came into his house knowing that despite the difficulties we would have an amusing conversation and several drinks together! I shall miss him. May he rest in peace.
Elfrida Heath Cambridge
September 22, 2009
As a long time friend of Susan, Peter's daughter, I would like to express my love and sympathy to you all at this sad time.
Jean Larkin, Shropshire.
Paul Lockwood
September 21, 2009
I came to know Peter towards the end of his life thanks to Alix. He was a kind and hospitable man and we had interesting conversations about music, on which he held very definite opinions. He also told me about his work in the early days of computing, working on the Leo system in the 1950s. As a worker in IT myself I found this absolutely fascinating. I too went to 'Giulio Cesare' in May courtesy of Peter, an unforgettable experience. He will be sadly missed and it was a great pleasure to have known him.
Alix Vlasto
September 20, 2009
I had the pleasure of knowing Peter since Jo and I became friends when we started at senior school. When I had my own children, they were regular visitors to Alpha Road.
One day as we were on our way to have lunch with Peter, my son Jack, aged about five, asked hopefully if I thought we might be offered ‘pink fish in a plastic bag’ again. Needless to say, smoked salmon was indeed on the menu! And Jack still loves it.
There are many memories of time spent with Peter. One I treasure is an evening spent at my house, a couple of years ago: Peter sitting contentedly in a wing chair in front of a roaring log fire, a glass of champagne in his hand and a purring cat on his lap.
He made it possible for us to go to Glyndebourne last May, when he didn’t feel up to going himself, but wanted others to enjoy themselves. I finally had the chance to see Handel’s 'Giulio Cesare' with the divine Danielle de Niese as Cleopatra – a wonderful and unforgettable opportunity. Peter said the proper thing was to drink champagne with our home-made picnic – and insisted on buying us a bottle. Such a thoughtful, kind, altruistic man.
Another memory is his huge enjoyment of a scallop, fennel and dill risotto I took over to Alpha Road one evening, which he proclaimed to be a Five Star recipe. It will give me a wonderful reason to make it from time to time, and be reminded of Peter.
Susan Thomas
September 18, 2009
A tribute offered at the funeral service on september 14th by Susan:
When Peter died three of his 4 children were overseas, and thankfully Jo, who also travels extensively, had driven up to Cambridge to see him that morning and was with him at the end. As your sister, I want to say a big thank you to you, Jo, on behalf of the entire family, for it was you, Jo and your partner Steve, on whom Peter depended totally, and it was you who enabled Peter to live up to the end in his own home, with pride and dignity, which he wanted above all else.
In addition I want to thank the entire team of neighbours, friends, and those who provided him support that made it possible, day in and day out for him to stay in the home he loved. Since becoming totally blind, he had a horror of being in a strange place on his own. All of you who are here honouring him today gave so much to him, each in your own important way, - you all provided the structure he needed to get through each day and move forward to the next.
Thanks to all of you for coming here today to honour our father for the final time.
And now I will read this poem by Brian Patten that expresses so beautifully my thoughts.
“So many different lengths of time” is copy righted and cannot be posted here.
September 17, 2009
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March 2009 with Jo and Susan
Susan Thomas
September 17, 2009
Cambridge in springtime
September 17, 2009
Peter at his front door, April, 2008
Susan Thomas
September 17, 2009
Bruce, Rachel & Presly Thomas
September 15, 2009
My Grandfather Peter was an exceptional man who always amazed us with his intellect and conversation. My wife Rachel had the opportunity to spend time with Peter and get to know him on a visit to Cambridge in the Fall of 2007. I was very proud for her to meet the Patriarch of my Family in England and get to meet a true English Gentleman. I can only pray that we inherit his wit and charm. He will be missed.
Peter as we remember him
September 13, 2009
Joe and Petra Tucker
September 10, 2009
Getting to know Peter was such a pleasure, as he radiated wisdom and curiosity on such a wide range of topics. We will miss his warm welcome and friendship.
The Family
September 10, 2009
Peter Gray Lucas died on Friday 4th September 2009 after a short illness; he would have been 90 in October. Peter had his studies at Cambridge interrupted by war work at Bletchley Park. His knowledge of German was invaluable. He came back to Cambridge after the war and following research in Manchester worked in industry at the dawn of the computer era; it was then called Operational Research and one computer filled a building. He helped run steel plants in Sheffield, paper mills in Aylesford, and the photographic industry in Ilford. He then returned to teaching, as head of the Management School at Birklands, then part of Hatfield Polytechnic. Peter leaves 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. He loved Gardening and Opera; he became blind in his later years but was a interesting and charming personality to the last, as his many friends in Cambridge know.
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