RICHARD PEEK
The son of a Norwood solicitor Peek studied at St. John’s College Cambridge, his first post being as a curate in Cornwall before coming here to Stowupland in 1880 from where he moved to other parishes in Suffolk being Rector of Sweffing from 1882 to 1890 and Vicar of Bruisyard from 1884 to 1890. He then spent 5 years on the continent as a chaplain at Dinard in France. During his time there he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society, and the first-class medal of the Société Nationale de Sauvetage of France, for saving the life of a young girl who jumped overboard from a boat. On his return to England, he became Rector of Drewsteignton Devon until 1904 ending his career as Rector of St. Magnus the Martyr in London. Sadly, suffering from financial and other worries he jumped from a window of his house in Sutton Surrey and was killed in 1920.
From the census we learn that Richard’s wife, Ada age 25 was living in the vicarage in 1881. She is from Brighton and her occupation is given as clergyman’s wife. Rev Peek was apparently not at home on the night the census was taken.
Ada is there with her 2 children, Mary age 2 and Maud Ada just 10 months. Both girls had been born in Cornwall. There is also a a domestic servant Elizabeth Double from Polstead and a nurse, also named Elizabeth.
