A grandfather winning at life

In celebration of the achievements of the more senior generation, Stewart Pearce was nominated as the sort of person who will try his hand at anything, no matter what.

Born in Whitstable, Stewart was schooled in Canterbury before taking a two-year chefs' course at Thanet Technical College. He was offered a position at the Dorchester Hotel in London but as a raw 18-year-old, decided a taste of adventure was needed and took little persuading to join the Royal Marines. After receiving his green beret, Stewart’s first posting was to the Falkland Islands working as chef to the hovercraft unit sent to survey the islands. It was a challenge to feed the 15 sailors on a peat stove with little in the way of rations other than mutton, but he learnt fast and relished the experience. Stewart enjoyed promotion and further postings abroad to Singapore and twice to Oslo in Norway where he was personal chef to the commander in chief Northern Europe, NATO, catering for ambassadorial parties and intimate VIP gatherings. Whilst in Norway Stewart took the opportunity to learn to ski and explore the beautiful country, developing a love for travel. On his return to the UK Stewart became head caterer for Commando Training Centre Lympstone, regularly feeding 2000 Royal Marines and recruits. He was promoted to warrant officer, leaving in 1988 after 22 years of service, as head of catering for three Royal Marine commando units.

Stewart considered the possibility of teaching catering and even took a course at Plymouth Polytechnic (now Plymouth University) and began teaching at Plymouth College of Further Education, before deciding to accept a job as catering manager at the Royal Western Yacht Club. In 1992, he was encouraged to apply to the Devon & Cornwall Police Force and at 45, Stewart was the oldest person to date to be recruited. Stationed first at Crownhill, and later in the Tavistock and Yelverton area, Stewart very much enjoyed his second career which he describes as ‘interesting, sometimes exciting, and not at all routine’. 

From his early days in the Royal Marines, Stewart has always enjoyed being active, and running, swimming and cycling are lifelong passions. He has run the London marathon three times and recently swam in the 10km River Dart wild swimming event, while in 2000 he undertook a sponsored 500km cycle in China raising over £3000 for Mencap. Stewart decided the year of his retirement called for something a little more challenging, resulting in he and his friend, John Crossley cycling across America, west coast to east coast. Setting off with a lot of enthusiasm and a set of maps from Oregon, they crossed Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, the Rockies and the expansive plains of Kansas, arriving in West Virginia 74 days later. Cycling for about 10 hours most days and covering up to 100 miles each day, they encountered terrain and weather of every kind. After their tent was ripped apart by a tornado they took to sleeping in the open, often in city parks. It was undoubtedly the experience of a lifetime, leading to yet further long-distance cycling adventures: in 2008 a trip from Istanbul, returning through Greece, Italy and France; then five years later, a rendezvous in Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, from where they cycled through Finland, Sweden and into Copenhagen. To cap it all, Stewart has also cycled the length of the country from Land’s End to John O’Groats twice for charity. 

Stewart has always balanced his professional life alongside a substantial number of hobbies and interests. He was one of the first members of the Buckland Allotment group and is still a very active member; another of his abiding passions is art, particularly watercolours and sculpture, and he often exhibits his work with Buckland Art Group. Stewart is also very much a family man and feels very lucky to have the opportunity to see his children and grandchildren regularly. Fortunately, his wife, Maureen, shares his love of travel and many of his sporting passions too; in 2003 they backpacked together around the world visiting Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and finally USA. The Japanese hold a belief in ‘ikigai’- ‘the happiness of always keeping busy’. Alongside a healthy diet and exercise, the philosophy of ikigai expounds finding balance and purpose in every aspect of your life, nurturing friendships and enjoying whatever you do. Stewart must have some Japanese blood running through his veins because he has certainly found his ikigai, and is above all else a very busy, but happy and humble man. 

Nichola Williams