Tributes to RAF veteran who became friendly minibus driver at Burnham Methodist Church

An RAF veteran who spent years in the air force before becoming a friendly face behind the wheel of the Burnham Methodist Church minibus has been remembered by his loved ones.

Peter Webb, of Bower Way, served his country for more than 15 years in a career which saw him stationed in High Wycombe, Gibraltar and the remote Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean.

He put his skills learnt in the RAF’s motor transport team to good use in his retirement as he ferried members of the Burnham congregation around for concerts and day trips.

Peter and his beloved wife of almost 70 years, Jo, joined Burnham Methodist Church in 1966 and you could be assured that if the church’s minibus was heading out for a day trip, he would more than likely be behind the wheel.

“We would take people to various concerts in the methodist circuit,” Jo said.

“They always used to say ‘we’ve got to wait because the Burnham Methodist bus hasn’t turned up yet’ and he then used to turn up with about 12 people on the bus.

“He was known for his minibus driving.”

Born in 1932, Peter was brought up at the Aldersbrook children’s home in East London where his stay was upended during the war years as the youngsters were evacuated to Cornwall.

He joined the RAF at the age of 18 and was stationed at High Wycombe – a posting which eventually set him on course to meet his future wife Jo.

The pair met during a social at Cippenham Baptist Church in November 1954 and didn’t look back, going on to marry two years later at the same venue.

Married life didn’t start smoothly for the pair as the heavy goods driver was sent off to the far flung Christmas Island at the beginning of 1958.

Jo remembered: “He used to write to me every day. He was a great one for writing letters. I’ve still got them all upstairs in the loft.

“There were no mobile phones, no ways of contacting anybody so you just had to wait until the mail got through. I used to meet the postman every morning to go and see if he had any letters for me.”

Christmas Island proved to be a surreal experience with Peter recalling how members of the RAF would be told to look away while nuclear bomb tests were carried out at sea.

He returned after a year and, via a two-year spell in Gibraltar, the couple welcomed their only son Andrew in 1967 who was born three months premature.

Peter left the RAF shortly after to help care for Andrew and went on to work for Slough-based companies including PB Cow and AEG.

The husband and wife retired in 1997 but played an active part in the community through their involvement with Burnham Methodist Church.

Jo added: “People would always say, you didn’t see one of us without the other. Wherever Peter was, I was. We were just always together.”

Peter, who had been living with Alzheimer’s since 2019, died on January 7 at the age of 92.

A celebration of his life was due to take place at Burnham Methodist Church yesterday (Thursday).