Obituary - Sensei Pete Hughes

[Rhys]

Pete was one of the kindest, sincerest and well respected people that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He will be greatly missed by so many. My thoughts are with the family.

Here’s a photo I took during the Edinburgh summer camp in 2007...

[clarkie]

I was stunned to here this awful news, Pete was a great bloke, he always met you with a smile and a joke.
My thoughts are with his family and friends now.



I have only a few photos with Pete in and one has already been put on (with Lloydie in it) so here is a group pic I took with some of you back in June 08.




God Bless him xx

[Moley]

When Pete asked me to say a few words at his funeral, I was quite taken aback. I didn't really know what to say. What does one say? There was no use saying the usual things like  "Oh don't be silly and talk like that" because Pete was not the kind of person to avoid the truth. He was always straight.  So I said.
"Well Pete, do you want me to say something nice or all the bad things about you?
He absolutely roared with laughter. That's the kind of man Pete was, and all of you here today, knew him, loved him and know what I mean when I say that Pete's laughter was warm, genuine and infectious.

Even though we had been friends for over 30 years, Pete always gave me my full title..Gwyn Mowll. He would talk to me and say..Gwyn Mowll Gwyn Mowll I want you to do this for me, or Gwyn Mowll, we need to get this sorted.
Many people think of me as someone who got things done. What a lot of people don't know is how negative, nervous and resistant to change I can be. Many a time when something needed to be done I would moan, complain and try to avoid it by saying it was too difficult or not possible.   Pete's reaction always was.
"Nonsense.. of course we can do it.. We can do this, and We can do it well" and we did.
It was Pete who had the vision, the vitality, the drive and the confidence to start new exiting projects and see them through. Pete was a brave man, a kind man and an excellent leader, a kind loving father figure to all of us.
Pete wanted to be remembered for all the things he had done in life. When I close my eyes and think of Pete, There's one vision that comes clearly into my head.I can hear him laughing. I'm sure that you can also picture this. That is also how I will always remember him.

[Shari]

   I know this is going to sound strange, but Pete's Service today was lovely, the laughter in the Chapel, and after in the pub, remembering him, the stories the photo album, I have never been to such a funeral like it before.



Rhian and Manon very dignified.

God Bless you Pete.


Shari

[Huw]

Another two pictures of Pete and Manon.

[Huw]

.

[siwan]

            Pete Hughes
Pete- 'nes di ofyn
"Wyt ti am ddweud pwtyn?"
Ond allai ddim darllen, heb golli deigryn
I lawer 'ti 'n fwy na athro neu hyfforddwr
Pete, i fi, mi rwyt ti yn dipyn o arwr.

Er gwaetha anafiada,'nes di gwffio a dal i drainio
mi gymrodd hi hyn i orfodi chdi stopio.
Ymroddgar, penderfynol, llawn hwyl, di-lol,
A person oedd yn dangos diddordeb mewn pobol
Person a'r gallu i roi gofal tadol.
Person sy 'di helpu nifer o fywyda'
ac orherwydd di cyffwrdd llawer o galonna'.
Parch sy'n deilwng sy' n dy ddilyn
Gan dy fod yn esiampl o gyfaill a chyd- ddyn.

Derbyniaist dy ffawd a dweud
"fel 'na ma 'i ,"
yn eco meddylfryd y dewr Samurai.
Ond bydd rhywbeth ar goll bob tro yn sakura,
Byddwn yn dal i ddisgwyl dy weld di yna
A teimlo'r boen fel cic i'r asenna'.

Dy glwb di am byth fydd Sakura
A dy wneud yn falch fydd fy mwriad innau
Gan fy mod wedi 'nysgu gan un o'r gorau.

Mae bod yn rhan o dy fywyd wedi bod yn fraint
Bywyd a dorrwyd yn rhy fyr gan yr haint
Ond mi fyddi am byth yn fyw yn ein cof
A byddaf yn meddwl am dy fywyd  fel rhodd.



Saesneg (rough translation)

                                Pete Hughes

Pete- you did ask me
"Are you going to say something?"
But I couldn't do it without tears falling.
To many, you're more than instructor or teacher
To me Pete in fact - you are a true hero.

Despite injuries, you fought on and kept training
This is what it took to force you into stopping
Committed, determined, fun-loving, straightforward
A person who showed a true interest in people
A man who was able to care like a father
A person whose life helped the lives of so many
And in doing so touched hearts and memories deeply.
The respect which you won will remain - you deserved it
As a man and a friend your example we inherit.

You accepted your fate and just said
"So be it"
Echoing in that the brave samurai spirit
 But now in Sakura there'll be something missing
Your absence each session we'll always be feeling
And like a kick in the ribs the pain will keep returning.

Sakura's your club and will always be
And my purpose now is to make you proud of me
I was taught by the best - I want to be worthy.

Being part of your life has been a real honour
A life cut too short by disease and its horror
But we'll always remember through joy and through strife
 The gift that you gave us - the great gift of your life.

[Shari]

Siw,
 Your words got me, i was doing ok until Mole Bach got up to say them.


Shari

[Lloydie]

I was sad to have missed the last goodbyes to Pete, however the group I was with kindly stopped for a 5 minute break at the time of Pete's funeral and I was able to wander off by myself to have some time to reflect on the grand guy that Pete was.  Some of the reflection was, of course, sad, but most of my memories of Pete brought a big grin to my face.  At the end, I could almost hear him saying "Right!! That's enough of that - get on with it"

It is a Quechua custom to take a stone from the low part of the trail and carry it to the highest point -  that Tuesday, I picked one up in memory of Pete, and this is me placing "Pete's stone" at the Ankascocha Pass at 4800m



Lloydie

[Jewels]

I heard about it when I saw Gwyn yesterday and its too sad for words. And especially for Manon and Siw of course and those fortunate enough to be closest to him and thats a lot of people I know. I remember on a trip to Blackpool watching his tireless enthusiasm and hardwork and he said, a day like this.. its for the kids, they'll always remember it.  With great sadness Julia and Eva xx

[Moley]

Received this e-mail from Siwan:

The 18th of May will be the anniversary of Pete's death. I would like to get karatekas from wtkf clubs to come to sakura to train that night. It is on a Tuesday 730 to 9.
I would also ask Gwyn, Alun or Eryl (as the most senior instructors) to consider taking the session, to make it a special one for Pete.

Please let me know

Diolch

Siw

Dave Lloyd said:

I'll be there even if I have to train on one leg
 
D

I'll be there also...and as Pete used to say... "Bloody hell Gwyn Mowll..you believe in giving them value for money..Ha ha ha "


(Oss Pete, your Siwan did very well today, she won the race for life..she did it for you...I know you are very proud of her.)

[Shari]

  Me and Carwyn will be there.


shari

[Emma]

I've got an exam Wednesday morning,so I might have to sneak out of the house but I'll be there ,even if I have to climb out of my bedroom window onto the garage roof and then climb down the drain pipe (don't panic that's only my last resort plan!)

[Moley]

An excellent training session last night.

Pete would have been proud of us all.

Osss Pete

[siwan]

A huge thank you to Gwyn, Alun and Eryl for taking last night's lesson and to everyone who came to train and show their respect for Pete. It was great to see the dojo so full of sweaty people!
My appreciation is enormous.