Interviewer 

So, first of all, could I ask you your name?  

  

Peter Green 

My name is Peter Green. I’m 91.  

 

Interviewer 

Excellent.  

  

Peter Green 

Well, 93 at the moment. Yes, so I’m three years in.   

  

Interviewer 

And my, I mainly think in terms of the local group, the League of Friends, I mainly think you were associated with, was Mansfield and Sutton, is that right?  

  

Peter Green 

Yes. Yes. How it started was when I was in journalism, because when I left school, I went into various things, and I went into journalism, and I was invited to attend the local meeting, and to report to my other colleagues. And so it was a way in which the work of the League got through to the local community. However, two years later, I was invited to become a Trustee of the League. And this again gave me pleasure, in as much as I was able to continue my outside interest, community interests, but I still have a limited  relationship with the League.  

  

Interviewer 

So in my mind, I’m thinking this is in about what, the 1950s, The 1960s?  

  

Peter Green 

Yes. the early 19. Well, it was, it was, as I say, it was in 92 that I actually was invited to become a member of the committee.  

  

Interviewer 

It must have been 62 or 52. I would’ve thought?  

  

Peter Green 

92. Sorry, sorry. I’ll get it right! Yes, yes.  

  

Interviewer 

because I…  

  

Peter Green 

Yes…  

Interviewer 

I remember it must be at least 10 years ago, you were celebrating 50 years of being a volunteer.  

  

Peter Green 

That’s right. Yes. Well, I was I was a volunteer for many, many years, 50 odd years, and I took a role in as much as my life developed into the community, into the wider field, in as much as I was able to make my contribution in different ways. And so I went through the, the actual tradition, the role, and I became the County Chairman. Yes, And then I became the Regional Chairman, and then eventually going through what I became the Deputy Chairman, nationally.  

  

Interviewer 

And that must have been about 95, something like that, 1995 I reckon?  

  

Peter Green 

Yes, that’s right. And Lady Miller was the President. And I became her deputy, and we worked very closely on national issues, and so forth. But it became a, later on it became too much of a strain. And after Joan had died, I felt it was that I ought to just pack it in. But I did remain at a National level for quite some time. And had a joy of visiting Leagues all over the country, you know, Scotland and speaking at their rallies, and so on. And that gave me a lot of joy. And it was when Joan had died that I felt that I was no longer useful in that field. That is why you know, I’m able to think, well over many… well over 50 years. Which is a, I suppose a privilege that many, many people in the organisation haven’t had.  

  

Interviewer 

No, no, absolutely. So, I, I can remember from my perspective that you were very keen. You did quite a lot of work in Yorkshire, at trying to get them gingered up?  

  

Peter Green 

And Oh, yes. Yes. The part of that work, was to visit the local leagues at weekends, their particular rallies. you know, I used to go off to, up into, as you were saying, into Yorkshire, into Darlington and be there to make a contribution to the development of the work of the League of Friends. And I used to come by, and as I say, when Joan had gone it became an issue that I felt was no longer relative.  

  

Interviewer 

Yes, so do you…you’ve talked about lots of traveling about, and I, in my mind, could remember meeting you in Birmingham and North Wales, and, and all sorts of different locations.  

  

Peter Green 

North Wales. Yes, I went to North Wales on one occasion, and just, just trying to think, who was he?   

  

Interviewer 

Phil James?  

  

Peter Green 

That’s right. That’s Phil James. And he got a, a message, apparently “He’s on his way.” We’ll meet him at the station. There again, I was able to talk to them about my experiences within the organisation, and whilst it wasn’t a long visit, it was one that they appreciated and were able to relate to.  

  

Interviewer 

Excellent. Now, I know that alongside that, your volunteering developed, you did some volunteering directly for the NHS Trust, I think as well, didn’t you?  

  

Peter Green 

Yes. It was a, as I say it went much further than what I’d originally planned, but fortunately in those days, I was, I was a free man as it were, and I was able to make that contribution, which was well appreciated, right the way through. I mean, there were many late hours and many early mornings.  

Interviewer 

So what, what made you do it? What kept you going, do you think?  

  

Peter Green 

I think because like my family, we had very much, links with the communities in which we lived. I think that was a…  

  

Interviewer 

So it was making a difference for the community?  

  

Peter Green 

Yes. Yes. And we, as I say, I am a Christian, I felt that that was a, a way in which I could express my views. And it was in, as I say, it was in the early, the early years that I, I felt that, that was a role for me in life, And, and it just developed from there. And I had, as I said, I had much joy right the way through for way over 50 years, Well, 59 years. And Joan died, as I say, after we’d been married 59 years, we didn’t quite make the 60. And you know, it gave me joy in my life. It, it obviously gave joy the lives of others. My ability at the time as a journalist and, and going through the various stages. I was able to help people in many spheres and, and enjoyed every moment of it.  

  

Interviewer 

Good. So do you think we still need people to volunteer in their communities today? Do you think we still need people generally to volunteer?  

  

Peter Green 

My feeling is that in an organisation like we are involved in. I feel that there is a need because there are different, now different aspects of life, which we, we have actually seen and worked in for, you know, nearly 60 odd years. And then we find that this is not, not available to the community, And we, I personally feel that it, it’s a way in which, like you suggesting a way in which we can get different aspects of life, which are changing regularly back into the community and make it, make it real. That’s, that’s my feeling at the moment. It makes it real in, in the community in which we live. And, you know, whether you have a wife to be involved, etcetera, And, and so it does actually give that an element of joy.  

  

Interviewer 

So you knew that I was coming today. Is there anything you wanted to tell me, that you haven’t had the chance to tell me?  

  

Peter Green 

No, I don’t think so, because I think we’ve had a relationship. I remember your appointment?  

  

Interviewer 

You were on the panel.  

  

Peter Green 

Yes, I was on the panel. You know, we, we were in London. We, seem to reach that level of link, that I’ve felt is a privilege.  

  

Interviewer 

And It’s been a privilege to know you, Peter. There’s been a lot that you’ve done and that’s why we were very keen that we should get to see you today, and include you as part of the interviews. Your voice will be immortalized now on the internet as part of a volunteering story. So thank you.  

  

Peter Green 

And I, I think there are many fields today where this can be replicated into society, and if that’s the case, then I think my life, and all the bits and elements of it, have been  worthwhile.