Peter Hilton (lord-lieutenant)
Colonel Sir Peter Hilton KCVO, MC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , & Two Bars, JP, DL, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (died 1995) was a World War II veteran.
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 Hylton Castle, near Sunderland.
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 United States 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. He was awarded the Military Cross and two bars . 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.[1]
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.[2][3]
On 12 June 1993, he was made a Knight Commander in the Royal Victorian Order in the Birthday Honours List.[4] He died in 1995 and is buried at Idridgehay.[5]
Sir Peter Hilton Court at the University of Derby is named in his honour.[6]
References
- ↑ London Gazette, no. 48456, 18 December 1980
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- ↑ London Gazette, no. 53332, 11 June 1993
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| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire 1978–1994 |
Succeeded by John Knollys Bather |
- Year of birth missing
- 1995 deaths
- People educated at Malvern College
- Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Knights of the Order of St John
- Recipients of the Military Cross and two Bars
- Lord-Lieutenants of Derbyshire
- People associated with the University of Derby
- Royal Artillery officers
