Remembering Peter Lister who ran Grove Sprays in Ipswich

If you ever walked past Grove Sprays in Cavendish Street, the chances are you would have heard Peter Lister roaring with laughter as he shared a joke with friends and clients.

Everyone who knew Peter was always welcome at the garage, and his daughter, Marie, said that friends would often pop over for a cup of tea and a chat.

Being a naturally warm and sociable person, Peter made friends wherever he went.

“Dad was really well known in Ipswich,” said Marie. “He had a lot of friends, he was very lucky.

“He was that energetic, happy person. That was just the way he was.”

• Save the date – a charity event and celebration of Peter’s life will take place at Henley Community Centre in Church Meadows on July 20

Peter Lister ran Grove Sprays in Cavendish Street in Ipswich for many years. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)Peter and his wife, Thelma, pictured together in the early years of their relationship. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter and Thelma married on September 12, 1982. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter was born in Ipswich on November 1, 1954. As a boy, he attended Copleston High School.

For as long as Marie could remember, her father had been running Grove Sprays. She estimates that he ran the garage for 40 years, working as a panel beater and sprayer.

Peter loved cars and really enjoyed his job. He worked hard building up his business, leaving the house at half past five each morning, and not returning home until half past six in the evening.

While on a night out at the Andromeda nightclub in Colchester, Peter met the woman who was to become his wife, Thelma.

They tied the knot on September 12, 1982.

Peter and Thelma welcomed two daughters. Ella arrived in 1985, and Marie completed the family of four in 1987.

Peter Lister with his daughters, Marie and Ella. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

The Lister family, with Thelma sitting beside Peter and their daughters, Marie (left) and Ella (right). Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)Peter loved to share his mischievous sense of humour with his daughters. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter loved to share his mischievous sense of humour with his girls, and Ella and Marie have many happy memories of laughing together as a family.

Ella will never forget attempting to fly a kite with her father in Cornwall, with Peter crying with laughter as they struggled.

Meanwhile, Marie remembered playing practical jokes with her father. When they visited Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge, the two of them would sneak off to hide behind the plants while her mother searched for them.

“Mum would be calling, I know you’re hiding!” laughed Marie.

“He’d find it so funny. He’d sit there and laugh so much that tears would be running down his face.”

When he was 40, Peter was diagnosed with testicular cancer for the first time. He recovered, and always remained grateful to the team at Ipswich Hospital who had cared for him.

Peter Lister with his daughter, Marie, dancing together at her wedding. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter with his daughter, Ella, on her wedding day. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter pictured with his beloved wife, Thelma. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

Peter pictured with his grandson, Harley. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)Peter pictured with his granddaughter, Honey. Image: Family of Peter Lister (Image: Family of Peter Lister)

To show his gratitude, Peter began hosting annual events to raise money for cancer research, particularly for Woolverstone Wing at Ipswich Hospital where he was looked after.

With vol-au-vents, a raffle and a disco, these became great celebrations – and Peter got a real buzz out of raising as much money as possible.

Hosting suited his gregarious personality down to the ground.

“You could give Dad a microphone, and he’d be there all night!” laughed Marie.

At the last event Peter hosted shortly before the pandemic, he was thrilled to have raised more than £2,900, and was hoping to hold another to take on this total. However, Covid meant that this was not to be.

In April last year, Peter’s cancer returned. He passed away three months later on July 20, aged 68.

His family are determined to honour Peter’s wishes and to hold another event in his memory.

So, on July 20 this year, Henley Community Centre will welcome them once more.

With a burger van, impressive prizes (including a television) and music, this promises to be an unmissable evening, and a fitting celebration of Peter’s life.

Peter is survived by his wife, Thelma, their daughters, Marie and Ella, and his grandchildren, Harley, 13, and Honey, 11. He was also a fantastic father-in-law to Jimmy and Ben.