You will of course all have your own personal and individual memories of Peter and of the special and happy times you shared with him.


Peter Czajkowski, what did you call him? Dad, Pops, Dad in Law, Grandpa, Great Grand pa, Grumps or Great Grumps, friend, neighbour or maybe something not repeatable!


I was lucky enough to call him Dad, Grumps, Peter.


Peter was born in January 1924 in the village of Kydaniv in the Ukraine.  He lived on a small farm with his parents Josiph  Ivanovich and Hanna Stepanivna Tchaikivsky and his brothers and sisters.


When war broke out, he was only 16, so to enable him to join the Army he used his brothers birth certificate.  He fought across Europe as a driver, clearing ammunition dumps, finally ending up in Italy with the Polish Army.


He arrived in Britain in July 1946 and lived in Market Rasen until 1950.  He was given permission to work, which he did, as an Ironstone miner at Nettleton having to continually report to immigration.


He often used to go to dances in Market Rasen where he met his wife to be Betty Scuffham.  They married in July 1949.


Several years later after having 3 sons Anthony, Michael and Stephen they moved to Bardney. Where they owned and ran the local corner shop. Peter became a joiner, which he worked at until he retired. Whilst living in Bardney, their fourth son Graham came along.


All four sons got married and went on to give them eight grandchildren Adrian, Konrad, Mirella, Michelle, Victoria, James, Joseph and Will. Who in turn gave them seven great grandchildren Darcie, Austin, Courtney, Thomas, Noah, Annabella and Bobbie.


In 2007 he was granted British Citizenship and returned several times to the Ukraine to visit his remaining relatives.


He loved his retirement working in his garden and greenhouse which I’m sure many of you will have enjoyed the fruits of his labors!
Several times the boys were told about seeing Peter on the roof of his house doing repairs or removing moss. He was spotted one day by Stuart Cook working on his house on two ladders with a plank across them, Stuart stopped and told him to get down it wasn’t safe? He told him he would bring him some scaffold, which he did. But this was Pop he did things his own way? Peter could be said to be very ‘eco-friendly’ way before his time!, always re-using and re-cycling, very rarely throwing things away and never letting things go to waste. I can now see where the four sons get it from !!!


Peter was devastated when his beloved wife Betty died. He managed to carry on with the help of family and friends, even enjoying some things, such as his pint and fish and chips on a Friday. Latterly help from Anthony and Graham proved invaluable.


Recently he was lovingly cared for by John & Christine and their staff at Willan house, however, he did keep them on their toes. He would climb the stairs with his walking frame on his shoulders, even though there was a stair lift? The family would like to thank them for their care.