AFTER enjoying a long retirement in Cowes, an ex-governor of Albany Prison, Peter Meech, has died aged 91.
Born in Newport in 1925, Mr Meech was the only son of Horace and Irene Meech.
He attended Barton Road School, Newport, and was a proud Barton Bonehead.
After leaving school, Mr Meech began work at Newport Borough Council in the public health department.
However, his ambition was to fly and in 1943 he joined the RAF. He trained in Canada and saw service in India and the Middle East.
Mr Meech left the RAF in 1950, when, after a three-year long-distance courtship, he married his wife, Joyce.
He then joined the prison and borstal service at Camp Hill and his first posting was to Lowdham Grange Borstal, Nottinghamshire, where he was a PE instructor.
Hard work meant he was recommended for a post as assistant governor at a newly opened borstal in Wetherby, Yorkshire.
He then moved to Portsmouth, where he forged a lifelong friendship with the governor, Stan Bester. Mr Meech then moved to Hollesley Bay Colony as deputy governor to Leslie Wheeler, who also became a great friend.
Mr Meech worked as governor at prisons in Everth-orpe, Ford and Durham.
However, it was his final posting which saw him return to the Island to take over Albany — during the troubles in Northern Ireland, when Albany housed a number of IRA prisoners.
In 1985, at the age of 60, Mr Meech retired. He became a Conservative member of Medina Borough Council and was an active member of the Cowes Corinthian and Island sailing clubs.
He also became chair of the IW Aircrew Association and served on the parochial church council of St Mary's Church Cowes.
He enjoyed a dip in the sea and continued to challenge his eldest grandson as to who could swim the latest in the year, and until last summer he swam at Gurnard Pines pool every morning.
He also used to be seen around Cowes, whizzing around on his electric bike.
Mr Meech leaves a son, David, daughter-in-law Jayne, and three grandchildren, Gareth, Laura and Andrew.