It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of one of the founder members of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.

Peter Keen passed away peacefully on 14th January in Willow Brook Hospice at the age of 83 after a long period of poor health.
Peter was born on 21st June 1942 in Withington Hospital, Didsbury, Manchester the only child of Jessie and George Keen and lived at Edgerton Street, Moss Side, Manchester. He was educated at Chorlton Grammar School.

He joined the cubs and later the Scouts enjoying the learning and adventure activities, went on camping expeditions in Cheshire and Switzerland, graduating to assistant Scout Master and was one of the first to win the Queens Scout Badge.

During his teenage years whilst working as a clerk in Manchester a chance meeting with a friend led to him considering a career in teaching. In the early 1960s he studied at Edge Hill Teacher Training College in Ormskirk and
met his future wife, Dorothy Cheetham. They married in August 1966 and lived in Denton, Manchester, their son
Richard was born in 1969. In 1970 they moved into a newly built house in Standish Drive, Rainford when he found a
teaching post in Liverpool, their daughter Tamsin was born in 1973. They lived there for many years before moving to
a detached house in Scarisbrick Road, Rainford in their retirement years.

Both Peter and Dorothy were qualified teachers working in various schools around Lancashire and Merseyside, Peter actually doing his teacher training at Rainford Secondary Modern School. As a teacher he taught geography, history, science and woodwork and served as a deputy headmaster,
He also had many interests mainly transport history including canals, railways, steam engines, buses, trams and anything to do with industrial archaeology and local history, he was a talented musician playing the piano, organ, accordion, guitar and ukulele, a gifted artist and photographer, as well as a lover of a good detective book. He was also a practical man doing repairs to cars and bikes, building a garage and utility room at home and even sewing to make curtains.

In 1984 Peter attended a meeting at St. Helens Technical College organised by the Groundwork Trust which resulted
in the formation of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCARS) where he joined the interim committee. It was in
1985 when I became a member and joined the committee along with my wife Cynthia, that we became friends sharing
our interest in canals, railways, and industrial archology.

In 1986 Peter organised the first volunteer work party at New Double Locks in Pocket Nook, St. Helens and continued in the role of work party organiser until 1996 dealing with related matters such as planning and negotiating with local councils on anything to do with the canal.
He was a prolific writer taking notes of presentations to the society members by various speakers and then producing a
detailed account for “Canal Cuttings” he also produced articles on a wide range of topics which were also included in
the society magazine along with items that I am sure went into other society journals. He would also go out and give a
photographic slide presentation about the history of the canal and the societies activities to any group that made such a
request, thus raising significant funds for the society.

In 1998 he became the secretary for the society a post he held until December 2022 when he decided to relinquish his
position due to a combination of health and family commitments. Twenty-four years is a long time in any position of
trust, but Peter was always there to offer sound advice and encouragement to anyone in need.

On a personal note, Peter and I shared many interests and adventures going to the meetings of the Northern Canals
Association, on work parties at various sites along the canal, at the many events we attended with the society stand in
various parts of the country, we also collaborated on the publication of the “Sankey Canal Towpath Guide” and guided walks, etc.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to everyone who knew him Peter will be missed and I’m sure each
and everyone has a personal memory of time shared with him.

Rest in peace dear friend.

Colin Greenall

Life President
Sankey Canal Restoration Society