Minister remembered for his 'wonderful community-minded legacy’ in Maidenhead

The Maidenhead community is mourning the loss of a church minister who left an ‘indelible mark’ on the town long after he moved away.

Founding member of Maidenhead Care, People to Places and the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum, Reverend Peter Hudson, arrived ‘like a whirlwind’ in 1983.

At 49, he was superintendent minister of the Windsor and Maidenhead circuit with responsibilities for the High Street and Woodlands Park Methodist churches.

‘Things started to happen very quickly’ after Rev Hudson moved to East Road with his wife, Celia and four children, said former Woodlands Park Methodist Church minister, Reverend Mary Austin.

He oversaw the creation of the Thames Valley circuit of churches and suggested starting a pre-school at Woodlands Park.

After transforming the chapel at Woodland Park, Peter said the best compliment came from a grumpy neighbour who said it was a ‘nice quiet little church’ before he arrived.

“Peter had a great gift for spotting people’s potential, so he would identify people who could do the jobs he wanted them to do, and it was hard to say no,” said Rev Austin.

“He got people doing things they would never have dreamed that they could do, so in that sense, a word I would use with him again and again, is he was a great encourager.”

Rev Hudson was involved in setting up the Maidenhead branch of Victim’s Support, and one ‘unsung’ gesture included offering respite care for two boys with cerebral palsy.

He launched the Disabled Lunch Club at High Street Methodist Church, provided Christmas lunches on behalf of Churches Together and facilitated a kitchen refurbishment to accommodate the extra catering.

“He was tremendous at pastoral care. If people had a need, he would be there to help them, whether in emotional support or spiritual support,” said Rev Austin.

“It was a practical outpouring of his faith in doing things and caring for people. It started with a lunch club at the church, but became so much more.”

Rev Peter Hudson (right) pictured at the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum's 30th birthday celebrations in 2014.

Revd Hudson was interviewed about life in the church for the film ‘Living Love’ made by his High Street congregants, broadcaster Sally Magnusson and producer Norman Stone.

It was through Rev Hudson’s encouragement that Rev Austin, a member of his High Street congregation, went into the ministry.

During his seven years in Maidenhead, he was ‘extremely generous’ with his time and his money, motivated by love and cared deeply, she added.

“He got things done, he had drive [and] the ability to meet people's needs where they were. I honestly don’t know how he found the time.”

People to Places CEO Peter Haley and Maidenhead Care chair Mike Moss paid tribute to a ‘visionary leader’ with an ‘innovative spirit’ and ‘deep understanding of the needs of the community’.

“He was a man of great integrity and compassion, and his contributions to our community have been immeasurable,” they wrote in Viewpoint last week.

“Reverend Hudson's legacy of service and compassion will never be forgotten.”

He had established the ‘good neighbour’ volunteer scheme, Maidenhead Care, in July 1985, which continues to provide transport to medical appointments, shopping or home visiting.

Another founding member of Maidenhead Care and a serving volunteer for 40 years described the ‘family man’ as ‘very persuasive’ and an ‘excellent judge of where gaps lay in society of the borough’ who has left behind ‘a wonderful community-minded legacy’.

Revd Hudson had noticed some of his congregants at High Street were not attending the Sunday service, and learned it was because they struggled to access the appropriate transport for their mobility needs.

With a team of community leaders, he took a closing government-funded scheme and relaunched it as the mobility charity, People to Places, in November 1989.

He was one of the five founding members, with Karnail Pannu, Fazan Awan, Dr Jonathan Romain, and Dr Mike Bruton, to launch the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum in 1984 and strengthen relationships between different faiths.

“He worked very ecumenically. I think the impact will be on the people carrying on his work, reflecting on the legacy that he has left,” said Rev Austin.

“We’re all the richer for having him as part of our lives, and Maidenhead continues to carry the legacy of his ministry.”

Revd Hudson died on September 8, aged 91, and his funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday), followed by a thanksgiving service at Marlborough Road Methodist Church in St Albans.