Death at 91 of man held up by raiders

Peter Garthwaite, a former district officer at Dalby Forest, who lived at Hovingham, was held up at the home he shared with his wife, Betty, while the robbers ransacked the home in 1996.

Their daughter, Dr Liz Garthwaite, today paid tribute to her father, describing him as a "wonderful and wise man and a true English gentleman".

Mr and Mrs Garthwaite's robbery ordeal happened as they watched television at home. The raiders, wielding sticks, entered their house and tied them up. They then ransacked the frail couple's home, earning the tag of "mean and cowardly" from local police.

Among their haul was more than £100,000 worth of jewellery, silverware and family heirlooms, including a diamond and enamel brooch which Mrs Garthwaite, who was 76 at the time, wore in memory of their son Simon, who was killed in 1974 serving with the SAS in Oman. The couple were rescued by a vigilant neighbour who heard Mrs Garthwaite's cries for help.

Mr Garthwaite was born in Guisborough and educated with his identical twin, Clive, at Wellington College. After studying forestry at Oxford, he travelled to Burma to begin his professional career in forestry.

His career in Burma lasted until 1947 and was briefly interrupted by war service in the Indian Army Royal Engineers, during which time he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

On returning to Britain, Mr Garthwaite joined the expanding Forestry Commission and became district officer at Dalby Forest. He then lived and worked in the south of England for many years. In 1964 he was appointed the Commission's first conservation officer and went on to become the commission's head of forestry management. Despite leaving the commission in 1970, Mr Garthwaite remained active in his retirement becoming an external examiner for the University of Oxford.

In 1979 he and his family returned to Ryedale, where he became involved in helping to build the Arboretum at Castle Howard.

Updated: 10:35 Saturday, June 23, 2001