A life on the water of eminent royal service (From Surrey Comet)

A life on the water of eminent royal service

2:38pm Thursday 4th October 2007 in

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A Teddington man who was involved in some of the most well-known royal celebrations in the past 30 years died late last month at the age of 81.

Richard Peters, of Luther Road, who died on August 31, was one of the Queen's watermen from 1974 until 1996 and was part of the processions at the Queen Mother's 80th birthday and the wedding of Princess Diana.

As a royal waterman, Richard had part-time duties whenever the monarch travelled on inland waterways in the UK and was also part of royal ceremonial occasions on dry land which, according to his wife of 50 years, Angela, was a position he enjoyed.

She said: "He loved it and was so proud of the position.

“The one he really remembered, and always talked about, was the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday and, when he was going down Fleet Street, people were coming out of offices. The warmth was unbelievable."

Angela Peters

"The duties were to accompany the Queen or members of the royal family when they travelled by water, or when kings, queens or presidents came over on state visits.

"Richard was involved when Nelson Mandela was on a state visit in the 1990s and he said that was fantastic.

"The one he really remembered, and always talked about, was the Queen Mother's 80th birthday and, when he was going down Fleet Street, people were coming out of offices. The warmth was unbelievable.

"He died on the day of Princess Diana's memorial service. There was a connection as he was on the carriage of Princess Michael of Kent on her wedding day."

Richard spent much of his life on the water, training as a boat builder.

He worked in Isleworth before taking over as superintendent boat builder at Kew and then Teddington, as well as owning his own boats and being part of the crew on others, including one which sailed the English Channel in 1956.

He was nominated to become a waterman, following his father, and was made up in 1974, continuing his life on the water, which Angela said he loved.

When he reached 70, he became an extra waterman, retiring from the formal role, but continued to spend time on water, travelling the British waterways on a narrowboat and spending time on European waterways.

Angela said: "He was very gentle and loving, a real family man.

"He was willing to help people and he had the most lovely smile - lots of people who didn't know him by name knew his smile."

Mr Peters is survived by his children Amanda and Harry and grandsons Robert and Matthew.