Obituary C R E 'Tom' Peirce
Obituary from the Ceylon Association.
Tom died at home with his daughter on 21st September 2010. Much loved father of Robert, James, Tessa and Michael, and grandfather of 8.
Tom was born in Calcutta in October 1931 and was educated at Blundell’s School following in his father’s footsteps and where his grandfather had been a housemaster. He went to Ceylon as a young man and joined Forbes and Walker in Colombo. In March 1955 he married Sally Guthrie at St Andrew’s Scots Kirk. In 1961 he joined his father at Forbes, Ewart and Figgis in Cochin. After his return to London as a tea broker he was posted to Kenya to run Combrok in Mobassa, where he spent a number of fruitful and happy years. His last few years were spent in London and with Optima.
Following retirement from the Tea Trade, Tom had three main interests; he was very involved with Blundell’s School, he was a staunch member of the Oriental Club where he could often be found in good company and he was Chairman of the Club 2000-01. Cricket was his great love and he visited Lords for the Test Matches with his famous picnics for family and friends. He regularly kept in touch with his old friends from Tea and Ceylon and attended gatherings for the Old Comrades, the Ceylon Association and Friends of Sri Lanka. Tom was a great character and enjoyed life to the full. He will be sadly missed.