After the sad death of Sir Peter Viggers on 19th March 2020, we felt it would be nice to hear about his life from those who knew him well. Please see below.
From Cllr Stephen Philpott:
"I first met Peter when I was 16. I went along to one of the hustings meetings during the 1979 general election campaign at Peel Common School. After the meeting Peter made a point of walking across the length of the hall to come and speak with me. I remember him telling me how pleased he was that a young person was taking an interest in politics and we spent quite a long time chatting while the tables and chairs were being cleared away.
Peter was President of the Gosport Young Conservatives when I was Chairman and supported our fund raising events as well as being our guest speaker on a number of occasions. He was an excellent public speaker and used to tell some really funny jokes. I don't think most people fully appreciated what a witty man he could be.
I got to know Peter and Jenny quite well when I served as Chairman of the Gosport Conservative Association from 2002 to 2004. During that time was the Gulf War. I used to meet Peter regularly at his home in Titchfield and Jenny was often party to our quite detailed conversations. I knew Peter's mind on the subject of the Gulf War as well as many other things. These are confidences that I will never betray.
If I were looking for a word to sum up Sir Peter Viggers I would say he was shy. That may sound an odd thing to say about someone who served as an MP for 36 years, but I think it accounts for so many things that people have said, and will say, about him as well as how I think many will remember him. Unfailingly polite, but always someone who seemed to keep a measure of distance.
Ken Clarke and Michael (now Lord) Howard were very close friends, as was Sir Norman (now Lord) Fowler who attended Sir Peter's 30th anniversary party at the Bulson Hall in Lee in 2004. Peter was probably the least well known member of the Cambridge Mafia.
It is extremely sad that no one will ever be able to recall Sir Peter without reference to the duck house, which became the symbol of the MP's expenses scandal. He never received any money for it from the House of Commons and it was later auctioned for a cancer charity.
I will remember Sir Peter as very polite and likeable and, despite what some will inevitably believe, a thoroughly decent man."
From Councillor Chris Carter:
"Peter and I both went to Alverstoke Junior School and then on to PGS so we almost certainly would at times have been on the same ferry to Portsmouth from 1951. I did not know him then as he was 5 years ahead of me and would not have wished to know me.
I certainly did know him when I moved up to Upper School as he was a prefect. In those days travelling home on the Gosport Ferry could be a fun experience but not with a prefect on board.
At that time Peter will no doubt have known of me other than school as his Mother Evie was a close friend of my Grandmpther through Masonic connection.
My late parents had been strong supporters of Reggie Bennett and readily transferred to Peter in 1974.
I did not become involved until moving back to Lee in 1985 when Julia and I were immediately recruited by our late dear friend Margaret Woolley.
It must have been the 87 election , because it was midsummer , when Julia, Margaret and I with others I do not recall now were having a well earned break on the balcony at Canford Manor enjoying strawberries and champagne when Peter arrived.
Others have said Peter could be shy and we thought he was that day as he did not wish to join us.
I subsequently have been involved in all General Elections.Peter readily took part in campaigning wearing his orange trousers.He was always keen to engage with residents.
Peter certainly did a lot for local residents which is perhaps not realised.
He was as has been said an Officer and Gentleman.
It really is a disappointment that he may become symbolised with the duck house.
I hope that he can be remembered for his long years of devoted service to his home town."
From Councillor Alan Scard:
"I first came across Peter as a 12-year-old 2nd year schoolboy at Privett School in 1958. Peter was working as a student teacher for 6 months before going up to University at Cambridge. Unfortunately, one afternoon he kept the whole class in detention for half an hour after school, for what reason I cannot recall, but I guess it was for mucking around in class. Being a lifelong “petrol head” I remember that he was driving a late 1930's MG VA salon car painted red, and 21 years later I bought the same model of car.
By the early 2000s I was getting involved in the local Conservative Association and with the campaigning under way for the 2005 General Election, I was part of the campaign team. I was responsible for the delivery rounds and their deliverers. I nearly fell off my chair when Peter asked me to be his agent. I had no idea what that involved but I agreed. I then spent 4 weeks going out every day with Peter in my car with a “Vote Viggers” sign on the roof with Peter using the loudspeaker, touring the whole Constituency. We often came across some youths shouting out abuse but Peter would tell them he could out-shout them as he had a loudspeaker. During this time, I got to know Peter very well and I looked forward to lunchtimes as Jenny would provide us with lunch. During this time, I reminded Peter that he had kept me in at school, but I would forgive him and maybe even vote for him! He told me that his 6 months as a student teacher was the worst job he had. It was not helped by the fact that on his first day he went into the staff room and sat on Mr Gimber, the Headmaster's chair. Mr Gimber was an old-fashioned strict type of person, so I guess that did not go down too well.
Peter was duly re-elected in 2005 with a large majority and I became his Constituency Chairman in 2007. Everything was going along well until the “expenses” issue came up in 2009. Peter gives a very good account of this in his book “Vigorous Times” ISBN 978-1-326-04792-4. I would just say that Peter did not get paid for the duck house and was treated very unfairly and still is by the media. Remember the media work by the ethos of “do not let the facts get in the way of a good story”.
Peter served as the first Gosport M.P. after the split with Fareham in 1974 until 2010. During his 36 years as Gosport’s M.P. I believe he did a lot of good work, but he was basically a shy person and did not publicise enough what he achieved. He was of a different generation of M.P. and of course Facebook and social media was not so prevalent as it is today.
I would sum up Sir Peter Viggers as an Officer and a Gentleman that it was my privilege to know and count him as a friend who will be sorely missed"
From Councillor Diane Furlong:
"I knew Peter from the time he was elected as MP and was a member of the party way back then. Peter and Jenny always made the effort to support our fundraising events and both of them were happy to chat to anyone and were good company. On the odd occasion I needed support from Peter he was always ready to help or advise where he could. I particularly remember when I had to visit Parliament for work, Peter took the time to give me a full tour of the House and was very knowledgeable about its history. My thoughts are with Jenny and the family."
From Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage:
"I was very saddened the news that my predecessor, Sir Peter Viggers, lost his brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Peter served as Gosport’s MP for an incredible 36 years - from when the seat was first created in 1974. Born and bred here, he was passionate about this area and its people. My thoughts are with his family."
From Councillor Mark Hook:
"I certainly remember him working extremely hard for the people of Gosport. He was certainly a great advocate of keeping the MoD and the Navy in place here, always fighting to ensure the armed forces were looked after properly.
He was always a gentleman and had his own unique style of campaigning. I remember the times when he used to go out on a dingy across Portsmouth Harbour to talk to people travelling on the Gosport ferry. A big character and flamboyant dresser who really made his mark on the town.”
From Hon. Ald. Margaret Snaith-Tempia:
"He was absolutely wonderful. He did such a lot for the people of Gosport that was never, ever talked about.
He was a pillar of the community who showed up to everything. He helped everybody, whether they voted for him or not. He was a gentleman to the core.
The way his career ended was very unjust."
