In Conversation With........
Peter Oldknow
Peter was born in Derby on Dec 18th 1936. His grandfather, a Mr Swindall was a coal merchant. Peter was the only boy in his generation of the family and he had uncles who had a farming background.
It was inevitable that, as he was growing up, he got involved in farming activities such as milking and, in a sign of things to come, with working horses on the land.
Peter passed the 11 plus examination and attended a new school at Rykneld, where he eventually became Vice Captain. When out of school he was working on a farm owned by one of his uncles, Amos Kidd.
He was also learning the basics of the farrier's trade at Breadsall where the farrier, Jack Bates, was the brother of George Bates, the blacksmith at Little Eaton.
Peter went to the Locomotive Works in Derby having been introduced by a friend of the family. He gained a place in the Engineering Unit but still kept up his farming work as well. In the late 1950s he was called up for National Service and eventually promoted to the rank of Corporal. While serving in the BAOR (British Army of the Rhine).
There was a position as a farrier looking after the military horses and Peter, with his background needed no persuading to do this.
While he was serving in the army Peter's uncle died and, on his discharge, he returned to the Engineering Unit at the Locomotive Works in Derby . He was promoted to chargehand in charge of 48 men.
Peter was keen to return to his first love and he took voluntary redundancy from the Engineering Unit and since the Blacksmiths Premises in Little Eaton had become available he rented the property from Bill Pykett.
He had effectively become self employed and he began trading as a General Blacksmith and Registered Farrier.
Horses being shod outside the premises on Alfreton Road became a regular site.
Not long after moving to Little Eaton Peter was approached by Broomfield College and for four years he ran courses at the College.
For a number of years Peter always managed to find a horse to pull the Queen's float on Carnival Day.
Like most young men of the time part of Peter's leisure activities involved “the dancing” on a Saturday night and, never a man to do things by half Peter had taken dancing lessons for (Proper !) Ballroom Dancing.
On one evening in a Derby Dance Hall Peter was to meet the lady who was to become the love of his life and he married Pauline who was to become his life partner as well as his dance partner.
Pauline with Paddy
In due course Steven and Lisa were born and Peter's personal life and business life were complete.
The family lived in the accommodation next to the Smithy. Pauline sadly died in February 2019 and Peter has retired and still lives elsewhere in the village.
As a footnote Steven Oldknow has followed in his father's footsteps and operates as a blacksmith in the Smithy. Steven doesn't “do horses” but is a very talented decorative blacksmith and the structure depicting the canal basin at the beginning of the millennium way is Steven's work. It is nice to know that there is still a blacksmith called Oldknow in the village.
Bill Hutchison in conversation with Peter Oldknow 2022.
