Former Thanet District and Broadstairs Town councillor William (Bill) Peppiatt has passed away aged 92.
Bill moved from London to Broadstairs with (late) wife Stephanie after studying at Downing College, Cambridge.
He took up a teaching post at Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate where he remained for more than 30 years, becoming Head of Economics and teaching history and current affairs.
Following his retirement, he taught part-time at Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs and St Edmunds School in Canterbury. He was also a home tutor for the Open University.
Bill was very interested in life in Broadstairs and his political interests led him to be elected and serve the community as a Conservative councillor at town and district level for some 33 years.
Among the positions he held were Chairman of Leisure, Deputy Leader and Chairman of Finance – when he became known as the “Iron Chancellor.”
He was also honoured to represent the town as Mayor of Broadstairs and St Peter’s, serving on two separate occasions with his escort, Hazel Eglesfield.
His interests in local education led him to volunteer to become Chairman of Governors of Bromstone Primary School and Upton Junior School, where he used his extensive educational, political and financial knowledge.
He was appointed Chairman of the former Canterbury & Thanet Health Council and Thanet Community Health Centre Council and NHS watchdog, where he was instrumental in the restructuring of the East Kent NHS Trust.
Bill received an MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in December 2002 for services to the community, especially in relation to health care in East Kent.
Bill had a lifelong passion for trains, boats, planes, buses and books and loved model-making. In which was very skilled and detailed.
He owned a series of classic cars and had not only collected these over 50 years but also maintained them.
He had served in the army after World War II as a conscript in the Royal Army Artillery in charge of maintaining the many vehicles and he was a very competent mechanic.
He was a member of the Morris Minor club and chairman of the model railway club where he enjoyed many happy times with his peers.
He was also an active member of Ramsgate Operatic Society for many years with wife Stephanie and the couple performed in a variety of productions. He was particularly fond of the Gilbert & Sullivan shows.
Bill became chairman of Broadstairs Bowls Club and served in that role for 30 years until he retired in 2022.
He was delighted to be able to return to the club over the last two years to give speeches and present the trophies at the annual awards.
Bill remained fiercely independent and lived at his home until just after his 90th birthday when a series of falls prompted his decision to move to the Royal British Legion care home Maurice House in Broadstairs, where he lived for the final two years of his life.
He continued to play a part in many activities at the home until he passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday 28th January 2025 at the aged 92 and just three months prior to his 93rd birthday.
Bill lived his life to the full but always had time for his family and leaves a daughter Celia and son Michael and five grandchildren.
Celia and Michael said: “He is greatly missed by all his family who are so very proud of all his achievements in his very full and active life. His many friends, all the people he met and knew and the community he loved will miss him greatly. He has left a huge personal void but lots of wonderful memories for us all to treasure.
“Our family would welcome any former pupils, teachers, councillors, members of local clubs and former colleagues to attend his funeral on 7th March at 1.30pm at St John the Baptist’s Church, Church Lane, Barham, near Canterbury.”
Very sad news. Condolences to his children and grandchildren. I was in the first intake of the Economics students he taught. We were not an easy bunch of pupils but he got us through successfully. Subsequently we were political colleagues. He had an impish sense of humour and saw the funny side of political life. RIP Bill.
So sad to hear of Bill’s passing who was Sir, or Mr Peppiatt, to us Chatham House pupils in the early 60s.
A well liked Master, we were not always best behaved for him I must admit during our History and Religious Instruction classes. I also came across him several times at local exhibitions for a shared interest in model railways.
Condolences to all his family.