Funeral for a friend and a celebration of a life - Pete Wells

Attending a funeral is a sad occasion but also a time to celebrate a life and I did exactly this yesterday when I along with many others attended the funeral of Pete Wells.

Pete was a big man in both stature and heart, he played a major part in opening my eyes to a whole range of bands and musical genres as a teenager through his second hand record stall on Peterborough Market in the 1970’s. As a DJ with a mobile disco that went beyond the usual disco boogie and played rock and alternative music I’d spend hours on his stall flicking through LP’s and 45’s, (younger readers ask your parents if you’re not familiar ). He’d let me take armfuls of records home without charge to listen to and only pay for those I wanted, invariably I’d buy 90% of what I took away based mostly on his recommendation. 

My lunch break away from helping out on my father’s market stall would be time with Pete on his stall flicking through records, talking bands and reading his copy of Melody Maker, in return he would borrow my copy of NME. So while most kids of my age were tearing up the dancefloor to Saturday Night Fever, Pete introduced me to the music of artists like Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits and Frank Zappa, as well as many upcoming punk bands like The Buzzcocks, The Clash and The Damned well before they hit the charts. 

It was no surprise and very moving yesterday when tracks from both Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart were played at the funeral having been chosen by Pete and a copy of the Captain Beefheart album Trout Mask Replica was placed on his coffin.

After the readings the assembled friends in the crematorium chapel were asked if anyone wanted to say a few words? I knew I say something so I stood up and told the gathered group of those wonderful Saturday’s spent on Pete’s stall and how he helped not just shape my musical taste but also shape me as a person. Pete started the first anti-fascist group in Peterborough and when the National Front (NF) marched in Peterborough he flouted the Police’s instructions to not cross the road separating the two sets of protesters and walked to them, not to fight but to talk and ask them why they hated those that were also human but just not of the same colour? The Nazi’s across the road were far less articulate and not up for a reasoned discussion, the situation escalated and the Police ended up arresting Pete. I wasn’t there that day as my parents forbade me to go because of the high risk of violence. After learning of Pete’s arrest for trying to help and defend people like me against the Nazi NF I signed up with Rock Against Racism (RAR) and other anti-fascist movements. Inspired by Pete to this day I am the sort of man who will cross the road to defend the rights of others and do the right thing without question as opposed to simply turn and walk away.

Pete shunned the limelight as he was never in it for popularity or praise and I’m sure he wouldn’t have enjoyed being eulogised or talked up but he was a real hero to me and many others. He was a man way ahead of his time and with great love and great humanity, the world will definitely be a poorer place without him - RIP Pete Wells, and thank you for enriching my life.

Del Singh

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