Peter Ellicott (born 1932)

Dave Jenks, Society Archivist

Peter Ellicott was born in London on 12 January 1932. The family moved to Devon from Bournemouth in June 1940 to live at Newton St. Cyres until 1952. Peter attended Hele’s School, Exeter, 1940 to 1948. He joined the DBWPS in 1948 and the same year took up his lifetime career as a Quantity Surveyor.

In 1955 he was appointed Assistant Secretary to E.H. (Snip) Ware, becoming Joint Hon. Sec. (with Ware) in 1957 and 1958 prior to taking the Hon. Secretary’s post in 1959. He held this post until 1965 before breaking off for a two-year stint with the RSPB at Sandy.

He was still living in Bedfordshire when he returned to quantity surveying, staying there until 1971. At this point he returned to Devon to follow his career in Local Government until retirement in 1995.

Shortly after his return to Devon he began to serve on the Slapton Committee and then, in 1973 was elected Vice President of the Society. He served in this capacity until he was elected President in 1987. Also during this period and many of the following years, he was involved in the administration of the Society as Recorder, from 1975 until 1997, Council Member from 1999 and Patrons Officer from 2000 until the AGM of 2007 when he finally stood down. A virtual lifetime of outstanding service to our Society.