Obituary

Peter Brown (1933-2023)

by Jacky Rix-Brown

Back in 1972, on a Thames disco boat in London, I met a dashing young man who wanted to meet me again. I told him I’d be in north Wales the next weekend with AAC(UK). On the Friday, just before I set off, he phoned to say he’d been working in Caernarfon and could he take me to dinner on Saturday. I immediately said yes, whilst wondering how I could “get tarted up” in a mountain hut with one cold-water tap, and nothing to wear. At the meal he asked to come with us next day, but was denied this due to only having Hushpuppies to wear. When I came off the mountain I found him looking for me, wearing a brand new pair of boots from Joe Brown’s. This must be serious! He took to the hills like a duck takes to water, and three weeks later proposed. Seven months on we married, and of course he joined the AAC(UK).

We did so many things together. We enjoyed many AAC(UK) meets in UK and Austria. We took up sailing. We travelled during our holidays to Europe, Africa, NZ, Nepal, (and when the Iron Curtain first came down, to Poland). We learned to ski together. In retirement we bought a motorhome for trips in UK and Europe, and spent more time exploring.

When I joined various AAC(UK) committees Peter was always supporting me in all I did. When in later years he found he could no longer manage the pace of AAC(UK), even on the southern day walks, he took on the role of chef, producing glühwein and mince pies for us all.

He remained alert and capable to the last, celebrating his 90th birthday a couple of weeks before being rushed to hospital. There, one problem led to another and he passed away.

Sadly I’ve missed what I had been looking forward to – presenting him with his AAC(UK) 50 year badge as my final duty as President. He will be greatly missed.

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