Inspirational charity leader's death a 'huge loss'

Peter Renshaw and his wife, Sylvia

Tributes have been paid to the "inspirational" president of Taunton's Rotary Club who has died at the age of 74.

Peter Renshaw was also chair of the League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital and the driving force behind the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.

Former BBC Somerset correspondent, Clinton Rogers, writing in his obituary, said: "Peter was a man who had 'caring for others' at the heart of everything he did."

Mr Renshaw died on 23 September, just weeks after his wife, following a "courageous and long battle" with cancer.

"It's a cliché, but he properly was a pillar of the community; a genuinely, genuinely warm, caring, wise counsel," Mr Clinton told BBC Somerset.

Colin Drummond (L) and Clinton Rogers said they would carry on being torchbearers for the League of Friends, a charity close to Mr Renshaw's heart

Mr Renshaw was also a former chief executive of Somerset Careers (later Connexions) and chair of the Valencia Community Fund (formerly Viridor Credits), which provides funding for community, heritage and biodiversity projects around the UK.

'Power of strength'

Colin Drummond, chair of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, was a friend and colleague of many years' standing; they first met when Mr Renshaw was in charge of charitable giving at Viridor.

"There was a lot of governance involved and Peter was just a power of strength in that he was focused on doing everything right, being fair on everyone: £100m in total was given, well that's thousands and thousands of smaller charities that benefited."

Supporting young people

Mr Renshaw's two daughters, Helen and Claire, said: "Everyone thinks their dad is amazing but ours really was, as shown by his work in the community.

He had endless support and encouragement for us growing up and when we had our own families.

He had a great sense of humour and we have so many fond memories of happy times together to reflect on."

Mr Renshaw's work with young people involved ambassador roles with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Chaffinch Trust.

"Peter was passionate about supporting and promoting young people, evidenced by the way he developed the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards, now in their 18th year," said Mr Rogers.

Highest international honour

Mr Renshaw was the only person to have served as president of Taunton's Rotary Club twice in the organisation's 102-year history.

Adrian Prior-Sankey, president elect, said: "His outstanding contribution to the local community was recognised by awarding him the Rotary movement’s highest international honour, creating him a ‘Paul Harris Fellow’, named after the founder of our global charity.”

As chair of Musgrove Park Hospital League of Friends, Mr Renshaw helped raise £1.5m for a new robotics surgery console

Musgrove was the first hospital in Somerset to begin using revolutionary robotic surgery, thanks to a £1.5million donation from the hospital’s League of Friends.

"I know at the League of Friends we're just going to miss him hugely, absolutely hugely," added Mr Rogers.