A special tribute was paid in the States this morning by the Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache who gave a full account of his life and the major contribution to the Island which he loved (see below).
Others told the JEP of their memories of Sir Peter, who died yesterday at the age of 80.
Former Senator and Father of the House Reg Jeune said that he and Sir Peter had been lifelong friends and worked together very closely over the years.
‘He was a sound, fair-minded lawyer and generally a sound man to deal with.
There was never any deviousness,’ Mr Jeune said.
As President of the States, Sir Peter had been a great believer in getting business done and skillfully moved things along when he believed a Member was too long-winded.
A man who appeared to have a tough exterior, Sir Peter also had a great capacity to be hurt as he was on several occasions during his time as Bailiff, Mr Jeune said.
He had a robust attitude to the Island and was a true Jerseyman who was very protective of its traditions and constitution.
Sir Peter was a great family man who was devoted to his wife and children.
Lady Crill had been a very supportive Bailiff’s wife, Mr Jeune said.
Jurat Barbara Myles, who was on the bench when Sir Peter was Bailiff, said his ability to summarise and deliver the court’s judgment in an Inferior Number trial without writing anything down was amazing – he had a brilliant brain.
A model of clarity and fairness, he also firmly appreciated a woman’s view on the bench, as had Sir Frank Ereaut before him, she said.
Jurat Myles said the Island owed Sir Peter an enormous amount for his hard work on the community’s behalf.
Retired Magistrate Terry Sowden, who was Sir Peter’s former legal partner and Solicitor General when he was Bailiff, described him as having been a highly respected colleague who served his Island with great distinction.
‘He was notorious for the speed at which he delivered his judgments and to my knowledge never kept litigants waiting,’ he said.
Former Jersey Arts Trust chairman Francis Hamon said that when Sir Peter took on that role he moved forward the negotiated plans for the rebuilding of the Opera House with great enthusiasm and interest.
‘Sir Peter also kept the fund-raising momentum going.
He never faltered in that support and it was with great pride that he delivered the speech at the reopening of the Opera House on 9 July 2000,’ he said.
It was Sir Peter who invited Mr Hamon to become a Commissioner of the Royal Court – a role which led to him becoming Deputy Bailiff.
‘He was a man who was utterly respected with a very real sense of humour that he did not always show in public and supported a number of charities behind the scenes,’ he said.
The Constable of Trinity, John Gallichan, said that after retiring as Bailiff Sir Peter, who lived in the parish, spent many hours walking the lanes with his Jack Russell.
Living in the same vingtaine they would often meet and discuss Island matters.
He was a great supporter of country life and regularly attended parish assemblies where his views were always forthright, Mr Gallichan said.
In his view, Trinity had lost a much-respected parishioner and the Island a true Jerseyman.
Policy and Resources Committee president Senator Frank Walker said that Sir Peter’s death was, from every possible point of view, a sad day for Jersey.
He was one of those outstanding individuals who served the Island with enormous distinction and worked so unstintingly on its behalf.
Senator Walker said he was lucky in recent years to have become quite close to Sir Peter personally, having lunch with him every few months.
‘These meetings were always an enjoyable and uplifting experience and I gained much benefit from his still very sharp and incisive thinking on major issues facing Jersey and his enormous sense of humour and warmth,’ he said.
Senator Walker said he would miss him and so would Jersey.
Sir Peter’s funeral will take place on Monday 10 October at 11 am at St Thomas’s Roman Catholic Church.
