Peter Epps - Director at Dillington 1977-1989
Last Friday I attended the funeral of the wonderful Peter Epps. Peter was the Director here at Dillington for 12 years from 1977 to 1989. After Dillington he secured a Fellowship from Exeter University and travelled the world invigilating for various examination boards. Indeed, one can say that he never retired because even after his travelling ended he continued to work as a photographer, painter and poet. His participation in Somerset Art Weeks was always a revelation, showcasing as it did the latest twist or turn of his artistic interest. What was nice for me was his continued interest and support for Dillington. He would turn up a couple of times a year for a concert and it was always fascinating to hear of his latest exploits and I too would share with him our plans for the future although he could never quiet understand how we were allowed to be so ambitious.
Peter was a gracious man, talented of course, but also witty and urbane. He was always his own man and he resisted the trails and tribulations of modern life with a quiet passion. He did things in his own time and in his own way. There is a story which still does the rounds amongst colleagues of ARCA (formerly known as the Adult Residential Colleges Association) of Peter travelling to a meeting at Rewley House, Oxford. On finding the density of traffic and Oxford road system beyond his comprehension, he turned the car about and returned to Somerset! We give thanks for Peter for being who he was and for everything he did for Dillington. They simply don’t make them like that anymore.