Mr. Peter Wake

  Our Hitchin and Stevenage Chief Instructor, Mr. Peter Wake tragically lost his life on Wednesday 26th July 2000, following a motorcycle accident the previous evening.

  All of us at Hitchin were either personally trained by him or examined by him.  Some of the more junior grades may not have been aware that he was also the Chairman of the UK Choi Kwang Do Association and was the driving force in promoting and improving the standard of our martial art in England, Scotland and Wales.

  His tireless dedication meant that along with the regular support for our local clubs, Hitchin, Stevenage, St Neots and Bedford, he also carried out training sessions and examinations in many other parts of the country from Surrey to Wales to Scotland.  He was a regular face at the monthly black belt training sessions, quarterly Assistant Instructor sessions and any other event where his presence was required. All this as well as the running of the UK Association along with Mrs Wake.

  Despite Mr Wake's status, he was willing to train with everyone, regardless of rank.  We had all witnessed him being equally willing and courteous to everyone from our own white belts to Grandmaster Choi.  He was an example to us all.  Only 10 days before his accident, he participated in a demonstration at Reading Choi Kwang Do school fete, carried out a grading at Camberley and attended a social event with Hitchin and Reading students.

  A large number of our students had known Mr Wake for a number of years and he had become an influential part of their lives both within the Choi community and outside.

  As Hitchin students, we owe it to Mrs Wake, Mr Sparrow and the memory of Mr Wake to ensure that our club maintains the high standards which were set for us and to support and promote our club whenever possible.

  It is up to us to ensure that our club remains one that Mr Wake would have been proud of.

Pil Sung