Tributes to community hero who lectured at Peterborough Technical College for three decades

Ben Iredale, in the kitchen preparing meals for the East Community Association Dining Club

Ben Iredale served scores of meals at pensioners’ lunch club during his time in Peterborough

Tributes have been paid to a community hero who went the extra mile to help others in the city.

Ben Iredale passed away earlier this month aged 90.

Ben – who has three children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, had worked as a lecturer at Peterborough Technical College for 30 years, but was perhaps best known for starting a lunch club for pensioners at The East Community Centre in Peterborough – where he cooked more than 1,000 meals.

Golden wedding Anniversary for Pauline and Ben Iredale, pictured at their Newborough home

Community work celebrated at Buckingham Palace garden party

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Peterborough Telegraph’s Pride in Peterborough awards in 2011 for his incredible efforts, and was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party to honour his work.

Ben was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, and served in the RAF as part of his National Service, working in the cookhouse in Egypt.

When he finished his service, he moved into education, taking up a job at the Peterborough Technical College in 1960, becoming senior lecturer in the 1970s.

Ben Iredale receives Lifetime achievement award from actress Tricia Penrose with (centre) Evening Telegraph editor Mark Edwards at the Peterborough Telegraph Pride in Peterborough awards

During the 70s, Ben and wife Pauline – who he met through his church and youth club activities and married in 1959, became involved on the steering Committee of the East Community Association which was finally built in 1977 and Ben became the first Chairman.

Favourite dishes included apple pie and bread and butter pudding

Daughter Lindsay said: “This involved several hours of Ben’s time and he spent many hours organising, with the help of Pauline and a wonderful Committee, functions and fund raising events at the Centre. When Ben retired from teaching in 1989 he put his RAF cooking skills to greater use. He started organising Christmas Dinners for East Community Centre and for other Community Centres in the Peterborough Area.”

In 1991 he started the luncheon club for the over 60’s, cooking a delicious meal every Tuesday for around 50 people – and became particularly well known for his stunning apple pies and bread and butter puddings.

He retired from the club two years ago as a result of the pandemic, but had raised thousands of pounds during his time.

Appearance on prime time ITV show

His work in the community continued as he helped Pauline with her passion for the performing arts, and he was Peterborough Operatic & Dramatic Society patron secretary for a number of years, and made props for a number of shows at the Key Theatre.

In 2013, unbeknown to Ben, Pauline got him on the TV programme Surprise Surprise. This entailed the TV cameras coming to the Centre and filming Ben in his kitchen. He thought it was a documentary on people involved in the Community but to his surprise celebrity chef Gino D’Campo turned up to assist him with the cooking.

Away from his community work, Ben had a passion for gardening, especially growing Chrysanthemums and Dahlias.

Ben’s funeral will take place at Peterborough Crematorium on Friday, November 18 at 2.30pm.