PETER WADE

I am a Devon based local historian, with an interest in the history all around me but also in the social context of that history. The nature of the work I am involved in also includes my interest in the history of football and as the Programme Editor of Harborough Town FC that comes through in the programmes.

I am originally from Northamptonshire, where living and working on farms gave me an interest in the social aspects of history. Mr Harley at Guilsborough Secondary Modern School and the Dr Beecher at Kettering Technical College fuelled that interest to such an extent that I passed my 'O' and 'A' Levels in history and then went on to Sheffield City College of Education to train to become a history teacher. Ten years at Priory School in Barnsley followed, working under the guidance of Stan Hutchinson from 1973 to 1983, prepared me for a full career in teaching. In January 1984, with my wife Gwen and two children Alison and Christopher, I moved on to Coombeshead School in Newton Abbot as Head of the History Department. During the rest of my career at the school I became Head of Humanities and Assistant Principal with responsibility for staffing and the timetable, amongst many other things.

In 2010 I retired and soon became involved in the new history group of my home village of Abbotskerswell. AbbPast would be my introduction to the world of historical research and local history, and for that I will always be grateful. In 2023 I left Abbotskerswell after having lived there for nearly 40 years; sadly Gwen had died in 2006 and with Alison living in London and Chris and his wife Annette having three children, it was time to move closer to the grandchildren. I now live in the hamlet of Lyson, in the parish of Kenton.

In my years with AbbPast and with great assistance from Nick, Trish and Felicity I wrote a great many publications telling the village's story. These are available on the AbbPast Publications page as PDFs. In addition I have also written a great many articles, these are available on the AbbPast Articles page.

I have also researched other aspects of local history, These are available on the Local History page.

My football research is available on the Football Research page.

My research and my teaching background has meant that I was asked to give talks and I enjoy being able to tell the stories of the work that I have researched, but only that which I have researched.

If you would like to contact me please email me at pjw52@live.co.uk