Memorial celebration of Peter Gardiner’s life this afternoon

FRIENDS of Peter Gardner are invited to celebrate his life at a memorial celebration on the lawns of the Royal Natal Yacht Club this afternoon 13 May at 3.30pm.

Gardner died at the weekend. He was both an actor as well as a master yachtsman and had done the Cape to Rio Yacht Race twice. In his early years, he sang in musicals and played the trumpet. He also worked as a casting director and many KZN performers got strong opportunities in the film industry through his encouragement.

Gardner appeared in a number of productions for Napac and the Playhouse Company, his last stage appearance was in “Hinterland” which appeared on the Arena of the National Arts Festival in 2013.

He started Troubadour Costume Hire in a small building in Silverton Road, Musgrave and progressed to the three story building in Jan Smuts Highway. His engineering skills empowered him to mix theatrical presentation and technical requirements in a highly effective manner. He was married to theatre personality, Caroline Smart.

Gardner was a familiar figure on his BMW motorbike and his laugh, Smart said, was “legendary!” “Mark Banks once described it as a hah-de-dah flying backwards, ” she recalled.

A cash bar will be available at the memorial celebration and those attending are encouraged to raise a glass in true Gardner mode.