A COMMUNITY is in mourning after one of Princes Risborough’s most dedicated residents passed away.

Peter Robinson, a retired Squadron Leader in the RAF, lost his battle with acute myeloid leukaemia on Saturday, October 11, aged 88. The Berryfield Road resident worked tirelessly within the community as a trustee of The Princes Centre in Clifford Road and chairman of the fundraising committee.

He was also one of the founding members of the Risborough Cares charity and campaigned tirelessly to save the centre’s day care services for people with mental health problems, physical and learning difficulties, writing countless letters and gathering over 3,000 signatures for a petition against the closure. The next challenge that Peter embraced was helping to raise £300,000 to buy the Princes Centre building and fund maintenance and costs, which was achieved just before he passed away.

Kim Challinor, Manager of the Princes Centre said: "He is the driving force behind this centre; we wouldn’t have this centre if it wasn’t for him. He would stand out in the pouring rain all day collecting money to help save it. He came in every single week and he took the time to get to know everyone"

He was a pillar of our community and we are all absolutely devastated that we have lost him. Our clients here will certainly miss him; everyone has been very upset this week".

Peter’s remarkable services to the community were recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours and he told of his pride at being awarded The British Empire Medal.

Kim added: "I never knew anyone like Peter. What he has done for the community is amazing, he was an amazing man".

He was a very generous and truly lovely man. The people of Princes Risborough owe him a great deal".

Alan Turner, Mayor and Chairman of the Council said: "It’s a great shame; he was a real stalwart of the local community. He never lost his sense of humour and used to joke about being on the Youth Club Committee despite being in his eighties.

"He’ll be very sadly missed and a very hard act to follow. He was a real gentleman, always there to help and completely selfless. I have never known anyone to say a bad word about him, which shows how kind he was".

Peter’s memory will live on in the community for years to come, with the main hall in the Princes Centre carrying him name and plans for a new road to be named after him.

Alan added: "He offered help and advice wherever it was needed. Peter really was a champion of our community".

Carl Ethelon, Conservative councillor and former leader of Bucks County Council, said in a tribute: "Young or old, able bodied or disabled bodied, Peter always put these people and others first before himself.

"The letters PR will always be synonymous with Peter Robinson and Princes Risborough.

"Peter Robinson was Princes Risborough".

Peter’s funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, October 29.

It is family flowers only but donations to the Princes Centre are welcomed, care of Surman & Horwood Funeral Service.

CHAIRMAN of the Princes Risborough Centre Carl Etholen, also a town councillor and former county council chairman, gives his own tribute to Peter Robinson, a much-missed champion of the town's community.

Peter Robinson, who sadly passed away on 11th October 2014, was a very humble man who wanted always to help others less fortunate than himself.

I first got to know Peter in 2003 when I was first elected as a local Councillor and quickly realised that he was so well known throughout the town of Princes Risborough. I found that Peter was one of the founders of the Risborough Cares charity which dates back to around 1998 when the Princes Risborough Day Centre was first under threat of closure. Peter went on to be Chairman of the Charity which raised funds for extra activities for Clients such as pottery classes.

Then in 2010 when there were plans for the closure of the Centre again, Peter rallied all the Community to start a "Save the Centre" campaign. Letters were written opposing the plans, over 3,000 signatures were collected and with Peter’s tenacity, the Community had the opportunity of taking over the Day Centre in 2012.

The next challenge was to raise £300,000 to purchase the freehold, repairs and maintenance and start-up costs. Well Peter put himself forward to be a Trustee and Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee. Come wind, rain sunshine and snow, Peter was always out there with a collection tin.

It was with his determination that a few days before Peter passed away with a total of £305,000 raised that the purchase of the building was concluded and he was told knowing that the future of the Centre was secured. Even Peter has requested that there are family flowers only at his funeral with donations to be made to the Princes Centre.

Apart from The Princes Centre, Peter was also instrumental in saving the Youth Centre in the Town and became Chairman of the Management Committee there. Young or old, able bodied or disabled bodied, Peter always put these people and others first before himself. When most people are starting to take things easy in retirement, Peter was even more proactive than ever in helping others.

A couple of years ago Peter was nominated and in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June this year was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Community. Peter was to have received this from the Lord Lieutenant on 28th October at an awards ceremony, but as he was taken into hospital, his son Craig asked if his Medal could be delivered to him so that he was able to have sight of and hold it before his passing which he did which must have been so special for him.

Although Peter will be sorely missed, his memory will live on for many years to come. There is The Peter Robinson Room at The Princes Centre and Robinson Close off the Aylesbury Road is under construction.

The letters PR will always be synonymous with Peter Robinson and Princes Risborough. Peter Robinson was Princes Risborough