Wife pays tribute to sporting enthusiast

A widow has paid tribute to her “superman” husband, a popular sporting figure and businessman, who died at home after a short illness.

Described by his wife as “a very amiable man with many friends who moved in many circles”, Peter Rawlinson died on December 7, aged 78.

“He was just a real gentleman and a really pleasant man,” said his widow Sue. “He was my superman.”

Mr Rawlinson, from Halstead, was well known for his long-standing involvement with the town’s cricket club and for running his family’s grain merchants for 57 years.

A keen sportsman, he played hockey and cricket for many years.

He joined Halstead Cricket Club in 1964, playing for both the first and second teams, and served as the club’s chairman before being elected as president in 1995.

For the last five years, he was also president of the Gents of Essex cricket team.

Outside of sport, Mr Rawlinson took over the family business, H J Rawlinson Grain and Agricultural Merchants, following in the footsteps of his father, who established the business at Alderford Mill in Sible Hedingham in 1926.

He built up the company, buying and selling grain in Essex and Suffolk.

Mr Rawlinson also took on many additional roles, including as chairman of the eastern region’s Allied Brewery Trades’ Association, acting as a trustee of the London Corn Exchange Benevolent Association and, for many years, as a member of the Baltic Exchange.

Ill-health in the 1990s caused Mr Rawlinson to downsize his business in Sible Hedingham, but he continued to trade in grain and by-products until one week before his death.

Peter leaves his wife Sue, daughter Claire, son David and three grandchildren.

A thanksgiving service will be held in St Andrew’s Church, Halstead, on December 30, at 11am.