Dear Margaret,

I was so saddened to learn that Pete died recently and I am sure the loss to you and your family will be very deeply felt. You will no doubt know such loss will be widely shared by many people. Pete was such a kind, compassionate and good-humoured man whose actions helped countless people throughout his life.

You will recall that I met Pete in church when I was a young students’ union president around the time when he was setting up the Matthew Project. In that first summer I was overjoyed when Pete asked me to join the project and I was very blessed to witness Pete’s outstanding people skills and learn from him in our daily work. To be honest I was shocked at the sheer volume and level of need of troubled young people in Norfolk. Pete was quite literally a very gifted Godsend to such people and I know for a fact that some of them would not be alive today were it not for Pete. I also know that Pete would not have been able to give such commitment to the poor if it were not for the patient support of his loving family.

Pete was a profoundly positive influence upon my own life and I told him this more than once. It is with very deep regret that I was unable to join with you at Pete’s memorial service. One thing I can say with certainty is that I know I will meet with Pete again one day through Jesus Christ our Lord. I would just like to add that I cannot think of anything more appropriate to say of Pete than the words that Christ will surely be saying to him as testified in Matthew’s Gospel: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me’” [Matthew 25:40].

God bless you and keep you Margaret.

Kevin Short.