We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our founder, Peter Church. He passed away at home on 1st April following a battle with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. His funeral, which was attended by family, close friends, and old colleagues, was held on 30th April.
Peter founded Hydramec in the early 1990s as a one-man operation, carrying out repairs to ship deck equipment and hydraulics for local clients in and around Great Yarmouth. In 1996, he designed and built the first Hydramec Launch and Recovery System (LARS), which marked a turning point for the company. From that moment onwards, LARS has been central to Hydramec’s work and growth. In 1999, the company delivered its first A-frame LARS, which has since become one of our most widely produced and recognised products and formed the basis for many of our current systems.
From these humble beginnings, Peter set the company on the path to becoming the global leader we are today. His vision and determination created a legacy of innovation and engineering excellence that continues to shape our company.
Hydramec has always had strong family foundations, with Peter’s family playing a key role in the company. Peter built the company with his wife, Audrey, and their two sons, Nick and Danny. To this day, Hydramec remains a family-owned business, with Danny now managing and owning the company following Peter’s retirement in 2012. More recently, Peter’s grandson also joined the business as an engineering apprentice, reflecting the lasting influence of his work across generations.
Peter was a determined and driven person who instilled the importance of hard work and delivering quality products into the company, values which are still at the core of Hydramec today. He was well known within the industry and will be sadly missed and remembered by family, friends, and the many people who worked with him over the years.
“It’s better to ask a stupid question and look stupid for 10 minutes or to never ask the question and stay stupid”, is something Nick remembers his dad sharing with him.
“Go for everything, regret nothing” was a piece of advice Peter shared with Danny, and it is something that continues to resonate with the family and the company.
In his memory, the Church family will be making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society. Donations are welcome from those who wish to contribute. https://peterchurch.muchloved.com/
