Peter Harrison, older brother of the late Beatle, George Harrison, and a long-time Henley resident, has died at the age of 66. He had been ill with cancer.
Peter was the second youngest of three sons born to Liverpool bus driver Harold Harrison and his wife Louise. Besides George, who died in 2001, Peter had another brother, Harry, and a sister, Louise. The Harrisons’ childhood home was in Wavertree, Liverpool, until 1950 when the family moved to Speke.
Peter, a keen and successful sports enthusiast in his teenage years, ran for Liverpool schools and loved swimming. He attended Rose Lane Secondary Modern School and took up an apprenticeship as a panel beater when he left school.
He worked for several companies in the city. When he was 19 he met Pauline, who was 16, at the famous Casbah Coffee House in Liverpool, acknowledged as the venue where the Beatles’ story began.
In 1965, Peter and Pauline were married in Maghull in Sefton, a dormitory town of Liverpool. They eventually bought their first house in Penketh, Warrington.
They moved to Greys Road, Henley, in 1974, when Peter joined his brother Harry to help look after and maintain Friar Park, George’s mansion on the outskirts of the town.
Peter was a keen golfer and a member of Henley Golf Club for more than 30 years. He was well-known in the town as a sociable and affable man with a great sense of humour.
He retired two years ago and he and Pauline travelled widely to New Zealand and Australia. Last year, in June, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought it with his usual tenacity and determination. He died in the Capio Reading Hospital on June 1st.
Peter leaves Pauline, three children — Ian, 39, Linda, 37, and Mark, 35 — and four grandchildren — Sophie, 9, Felix, 6, Adam, 6, and two-and-a-half-year old, Peter-John (P-J).
George's mom also died of cancer. I think it ran in the family.
Don't forget that Peter was George's first guitar partner-- George conned him into appearing with him as the Rebels! (I think George as 13.) RIP Peter.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
I believe so. I'm not 100% sure about their activities, but I believe Louise is very much involved in her band and environmentalism, and Harry is looking after the grounds at Friar Park.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
~Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans~ ~Give me love, give me peace on earth~ ~All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone~ ~The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you~