Wotton has felt the loss of two much-loved figures recently — two people who, in very different ways, added colour, character, and warmth to our community. Each deserves to be remembered in their own right, and together they remind us just how special the people of this town can be.
Remembering Peter Roberts (Pete the Print)
Image: Matt Bigwood
Anyone who ever visited Cotswold Letterpress will remember the warm smile, the friendly chat, and the sense that your visit mattered, no matter how small the job. Pete carried a lifetime of printing knowledge with him, and he shared it with an ease that came only from true passion for his craft.
His stories of the early days of print, the changes in technology, and the many characters he met along the way were as much a part of the experience as the beautifully finished work he produced. But more than his skill, it was his generosity of spirit that made him such an important part of Wotton. He always had time. He always listened. He always cared.
I will miss Pete’s friendly voice at the end of the phone whenever I rang with an enquiry — always a cheerful “Oh Jan,” with a genuine feeling that he was pleased to hear from you, ending with, “Leave it with me, my dear, and I’ll email you over a quote.”
Remembering Barry Walding
Image: Matt Bigwood
Barry brought a very different kind of creativity to Wotton — one filled with colour, detail, and heart. When we featured him in 2023, he welcomed me as though I’d known him for years, proudly sharing his incredible paintings and the stories behind them. His artwork of Banjo and Pepsi, the two much-loved Shetland ponies, made a beautiful front cover and showed exactly what made Barry’s work so special.
Barry was also deeply involved with UTEA and believed passionately in what community arts could bring to the town.
He could capture almost anything — animals, portraits, trains, aeroplanes and so much more — always with that unmistakable touch of his own. As I was leaving Barry’s home, he kindly gave me two beautiful prints he had made — a gift I will treasure always.
A Community That Remembers
Though their talents were very different, both men shared something important: they were woven into the everyday life of Wotton. You didn’t just know their work — you knew them. The town will be quieter without their presence, but far richer for having had them. They will be very sadly missed, and our thoughts and deepest condolences go to their families at this difficult time.
Read the article in the December 2025 issue of the Wotton Directory here