Peter Hilton (lord-lieutenant)
Encyclopedia
Colonel Sir Peter Hilton, KCVO
, MC
, DL
, JP
(died 1995) was a World War II veteran and hero.
A son of Major-General Richard Hilton and Phyllis Hilton, he was educated at Malvern College
and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He married Lady Winifred Smith in 1942 and they had two sons, Andrew and Richard.
He was born into an old County Durham family. The family seat was Hilton Castle, near Sunderland.
"In Peter's veins ran the blood of some of the great Border families, including the Percys,” said his wife, Lady Winifred Hilton. “The Hiltons distinguished themselves in battle from Crecy and Flodden to the poppy fields of Flanders and the Second World War. ”
He served in the Royal Artillery
in the Second World War, joining the British Expeditionary Force
in 1939-40. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, he served in the Western Desert with the 7th Armoured Division from 1942-43, seeing action at Alamein. He then joined the 5th American Army in Italy from 1943-44, returning to join the Normandy invasion with the Royal Horse Artillery
in 1944, where he was badly wounded.
In 1950, he was sent to Greece as an instructor but was recalled due to Korea. A courageous soldier, he was awarded the Military Cross
and two bars and presented with the Order of Minerva by the King of Greece. In 1972, he was made an honorary colonel. He became Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
(1978-1994) and was created a Knight of the Order of St John on 18 December 1980.
After retiring from the Army, Sir Peter took over running his in-laws’ nurseries at Tansley. He invested in Britannia Park, an ill-fated venture to build a theme park in Derbyshire
. The company went bankrupt in 1985, only ten weeks after its opening, owing him £28,000. He was forced to sell his garden nursery
business as a result.
On 12 June 1993, he was made a KCVO
in the Birthday Honours List. He died in 1995 and is buried at Idridgehay
.
Sir Peter Hilton Court at the University of Derby
is named in his honour.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(died 1995) was a World War II veteran and hero.
A son of Major-General Richard Hilton and Phyllis Hilton, he was educated at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He married Lady Winifred Smith in 1942 and they had two sons, Andrew and Richard.
He was born into an old County Durham family. The family seat was Hilton Castle, near Sunderland.
"In Peter's veins ran the blood of some of the great Border families, including the Percys,” said his wife, Lady Winifred Hilton. “The Hiltons distinguished themselves in battle from Crecy and Flodden to the poppy fields of Flanders and the Second World War. ”
He served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in the Second World War, joining the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
in 1939-40. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, he served in the Western Desert with the 7th Armoured Division from 1942-43, seeing action at Alamein. He then joined the 5th American Army in Italy from 1943-44, returning to join the Normandy invasion with the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
in 1944, where he was badly wounded.
In 1950, he was sent to Greece as an instructor but was recalled due to Korea. A courageous soldier, he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and two bars and presented with the Order of Minerva by the King of Greece. In 1972, he was made an honorary colonel. He became Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire. Since 1689, all the Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Derbyshire.*Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon...
(1978-1994) and was created a Knight of the Order of St John on 18 December 1980.
After retiring from the Army, Sir Peter took over running his in-laws’ nurseries at Tansley. He invested in Britannia Park, an ill-fated venture to build a theme park in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. The company went bankrupt in 1985, only ten weeks after its opening, owing him £28,000. He was forced to sell his garden nursery
Nursery (horticulture)
A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size. They include retail nurseries which sell to the general public, wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial gardeners, and private nurseries which supply the needs of...
business as a result.
On 12 June 1993, he was made a KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in the Birthday Honours List. He died in 1995 and is buried at Idridgehay
Idridgehay
Idridgehay is a village in the English county of Derbyshire. -Geography:Idridehay lies south of the town Wirksworth west of the town of Belper in the valley of the River Ecclesbourne. Idridgehay Green is immediately to its west and the hamlet of Ireton Wood a mile to its south.-Transport:The...
.
Sir Peter Hilton Court at the University of Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
is named in his honour.