My late husband, Peter Kenyon, passed away at the age of 78. He was a journalist based in Brussels, contributing to esteemed publications such as the Sunday Times, Irish Times, and the BBC. Over the years, he held various roles at Reuters, including international marketing editor, economics editor, and Westminster lobby correspondent. In addition to his journalism career, Peter was a social entrepreneur, trade union member, and political activist.
Born in Liverpool to Doreen (née Harrison), a primary school educator, and Frank Kenyon, an electrical draughtsman who passed away when Peter was just seven years old, he attended boarding school at the Royal Wolverhampton. He earned a BSc in economics and politics from Hull University, followed by an MA in development economics from Leeds University. It was at Hull where we first crossed paths and eventually married in 1970.
In 1977, we relocated to London, where Peter joined Reuters. He became actively involved in the local community, chairing the Finsbury Park Action Group and playing a vital role in the successful campaign to elect Diane Abbott as the first Black woman to serve as an MP in Britain.
During the early 1990s, Peter contributed to the Voluntary Committee on Overseas Aid and Development, offering guidance to Judith Hart, the then-shadow minister for development, on the dynamics between the EU and the UK, as well as the implications of British membership for developing nations.
He was a co-founder of the Finsbury Park Community Trust, and even hosted a visit from the Prince of Wales at that time. Among his most cherished accomplishments was leading the Save the Reservoirs campaign, which successfully preserved both the east and west reservoirs in Hackney from construction by Thames Water. Today, these sites serve as a nature reserve and a water sports centre.
Peter served as a Hackney councillor and chief whip from 1995 to 1998, and he chaired the Newham Community Health Services Trust, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing mental health care services. He was elected to the Labour national executive committee in 1995 and served as the clerk to the Labour commission. For the last two decades, he worked as an editor for Chartist, a magazine dedicated to democratic socialism.
A lover of music, Peter played double bass with local orchestras. He also had a deep passion for gardening, nurturing his grandchildren’s interest in propagation, cycling to the beach, or sailing in Poole Harbour during our family holidays.
He leaves behind me, our four children—Christopher, Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Catherine—and nine beloved grandchildren.
