A ‘passionate and committed’ grandfather, who ‘lived his life to the full’ and fought to protect Britain’s aviation heritage, has died.
Peter Vallance, 79, from Charlwood, who was the owner and founder of Gatwick Aviation Museum, died at St Thomas Hospital on January 14 during heart surgery.
The aviation expert fought to preserve Britain’s aviation heritage by providing an educational centre at the museum on Lowfield Heath Road.
Peter’s family said he was a dynamic presence and his motto in life was always ‘strive to achieve.’
A spokesman for Peter’s family said: “Peter was a man of his word, single minded and committed to whatever he took on. He was tough, to him there was no substitute for hard work.
“Early on in his life Peter learned to be resourceful and independent, he used to tell of how he left school with an award of £10 in honour of being head boy and bought an axe so he could go and work as a tree feller. He walked for miles just to go to work.”
Peter, who was a member of the Royal British Legion, started up his own business PG Vallance Limited and won the commission for the new town contract to supply and fix fencing. In 1980 Peter started a new venture and purchased Orchard Farm in Charlwood where he converted sheds into small units to let to local businesses. It later became the site for Gatwick Aviation Museum.