Handforth, Dr. Christopher “Peter”, 85, Truro, N.S., passed away November 27, 2012, at home with Edna, his loving wife of 62 years, by his side. A gentle, quiet and determined man, Peter will always be remembered as a doting husband, caring father, proud grandfather, brilliant physician, and loyal friend. Born February 24, 1927, in Ealing, a suburb of London, England, Peter was the second of the three children of Joseph and Gladys Handforth. His earliest memories were of rockets and fireworks on Guy Fawkes Day, fantastic steam-powered toy trains, and tours at the Napier aircraft engine factory, where his father was a metallurgical chemist. By age eight, he developed a knack for getting into trouble for doing things he considered normal, like disappearing without a word by bicycle to a distant air show to marvel at new fighter planes and watch pilots testing their weapons. Peter professed to be a poor student, with “abysmal” grades in early years earning the wrath of strict teachers. As World War II started, he attended boarding school to endure not only higher education, but occasional strafing by German warplanes. Nonetheless, he graduated as a medical doctor from London University Medical College in 1950. Edna and Peter met in January 1947 at Hampstead General Hospital in London. They married November 18, 1950. In 1953, Peter joined the Royal Air Force and studied pathology and tropical medicine. In 1954, he was stationed to Changi Village, Singapore, where, true to form, he was soon in trouble with his commanding officer for suggesting new ways to improve lab testing. But in the end, Peter implemented statistical controls to improve tests and worked to find malaria treatments. In 1956, Edna, Peter and their three young children immigrated to Halifax, where Peter lectured in pathology at Dalhousie University. The family lived in Halifax and then Waverley until 1963 when Peter headed the pathology lab at the Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro, where he worked tirelessly until retiring in 1993. In his spare time, Peter was always imagining and building something amazing. With only a bit of professional help, he completely restored a run-down Victorian home. He built kayaks and sail boats for his family to enjoy. His life-long passion was flying. He was an aircraft historian, a small craft pilot and the constructor of dozens of scale models, many of which he piloted by radio control. His keen wit and razor-sharp mind inspired all who knew him. Peter fought a long and valiant battle with cancer and died, as he lived, with patience, determination, courage and dignity. Peter is survived by his wife Edna, Truro; children Jon (Holly Clark), Calgary; Tim (Clare MacEachern), Antigonish; Jane, Prince Rupert; and grandchildren Mary-Kate Quehe (Jason), Okotoks, Alberta; Christopher, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and MacKenzie, Calgary. He is also survived by his sister Marion Hicks, Oxford, England, and nephews Martin, Kingston, Ontario; Adrian, Los Angeles; and Nicholas, Oxford, England. His parents, brother James, sister-in-law Joan, and brother-in-law Anthony predeceased him. Peter’s family invites friends to join them to share memories and celebrate a life well lived. A gathering will be held 2-4 p.m. Monday, December 3, at Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation. The family would like to thank all of Peter’s caregivers, in particular Dr. Feltmate, the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Palliative Care unit. On-line condolences and donations may be made at: www.colchestercommunity.com Enjoy life … each day is a gift!