Desmond Peter Middleton

Desmond Peter Middleton was born at the George IV on Infirmary Road in Sheffield on 1 January 1921, tradition has it that his father, Arthur Middleton was the only teetotal Landlord in Sheffield at the time, but I don't know if this was true. His family were originally coal merchants in horse and cart days. Des had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He was the youngest. Des, his brother Nigel Gordon and his sister Veda Gwendoline went into the teaching profession, his sister Veda becoming Headmistress of Carbrook County Junior School, Attercliffe Common, Sheffield in 1954.

Following a period at De La Salle College, Sheffield and St Peter's College, Freshfield, Liverpool, Des to his family and Peter to his friends, started as an Articled Clerk with Peat Marwick Mitchell's Sheffield Coal Control Office but when the war came he joined the Royal Artillery as a Gunner Driver, Mechanic and was then selected to join A Squadron, the 1st Special Air Service as a Sabotage Agent where he served under Colonel Paddy Mayne. He was in the S.A.S from 30 June 1942 to 16 November 1945 taking part in the Western Desert, Italy and North West Europe campaigns.

After the war Peter eventually went to Brincliffe Teachers' Training College in Sheffield, where he met and subsequently married Eileen Harris who originated from Wales. He often talked about his courting days and the nostalgia he and Eileen had for the old Sheffield tram. Peter then taught at Philadelphia in Sheffield.

After their marriage they went out to teach in Africa for a few years, travelling on the Union Castle line both there and on their return to England, with their young daughter who had been born in Tripoli. They stayed in Sheffield with family initially and then moved to Bedford, living in a small village called Swineshead where Peter became a Rural District Councillor. Peter taught at Silver Jubilee School for boys in Bedford, Bushmead at Eaton Socon and then Longsands near St Neots where he ran a Film Club. Later the family moved to Kent where Peter taught at Rowena School for Girls in Sittingbourne. He was due to retire in January 1981 but had a cerebral haemorrhage on Boxing Day and died the day after, leaving a wife and one child. His first wife Eileen had died just after their 25th Wedding Anniversary from hepatitis and Peter had only recently remarried.

Peter was a true "Made in Sheffield", very proud of his Sheffield roots, appearing to have a rough, tough exterior but very kind and thoughtful to the needs of others. He was extremely supportive when his wife Eileen had had to have a radical mastectomy and was a "new man" before the word was invented. He was a good ambassador for Sheffield.

For more information on Desmond Peter Middleton visit his official tribute site at: http://www.tabbs.freeserve.co.uk/index/