Vicky Moon photo, circa 1980s
Peter Hitchen, MFH, died January 12, 2015 from complications stemming from injuries sustained in a fall in the hunting field a month earlier. He was seventy-six. At the time of his passing, Peter was serving in his twenty-seventh season as Joint-Master of the Potomac Hunt (MD).
Peter was born in England but didn’t start foxhunting until he emigrated to the U.S. in 1962. After settling in the Washington, D.C. area, Peter was introduced to the sport by a friend. He also met his bride-to-be, Nancy Tilton Orme of Leesburg, Virginia, who also encouraged his involvement with hunting to hounds at The Loudoun Hunt.
From that time on, Peter never let anything interfere with his maturing love of and passion for foxhunting. After many seasons of whipping-in at the New Market/Middletown Valley Hounds (MD) and later at The Potomac Hunt, Peter joined Irvin L. (Skip) Crawford as Joint-Master of Potomac in 1987. With huntsman, Larry Pitts, they oversaw the development of what is unquestionably one of the premier packs of American foxhounds in the United States, giving good sport to their members and garnering championships and grand championships at the hound shows year after year.
Peter was also heavily involved in organizing and running the Potomac Hunt Races every May, one of the most respected and popular meets among steeplechase horsemen. He was also a successful steeplechase owner whose good luck brought him many winners. Daily Desire earned him the title of Maryland Steeplechase Owner of the Year in 1991, and R. B. Billy, co-owned with Skip Crawford, won the Maryland Steeplechase Timber title several years later. In 1994, Peter and his brilliant field hunter, Henry, won the North American Field Hunter Championships.
Peter was born in New Moston, a suburb of Manchester, England, on October 23, 1938, to John and Marion Platt Hitchen. The family endured the relentless German bombing of that industrial city during World War II until they were forced to evacuate and live temporarily in Cheshire through the end of the war.
He attended the Moston Primary School and went to work early in life on the three family farms located around Cheshire. He loved farming and the outdoors, and this introduction to land stewardship and farming fortuitously introduced Peter to riding the work horses, while making hay and riding to and from the hayfields.
A thirst for world travel and adventure, as well as the British requirement of two years National Service in the armed forces, led Peter to join the Army in 1956. He immediately signed on for an additional three years so that he was guaranteed overseas deployment. He spent six years in the Royal Artillery and served in Malaysia during the communist insurrection and later served in Hong Kong fighting the Chinese communists. He achieved the rank of Full Bombardier and was charged with managing the Signal Corp of the Royal Artillery.
One of his commanding officers, Lt. Col. H. A. Hardy, MBE, MC, RA, described Peter as “a conscientious and intelligent young NCO. He is completely trustworthy and accepts responsibility willingly. He has the initiative and drive to get things done.” Peter lived his entire life in accord with this self-imposed doctrine.
After leaving the Army in early 1962 Peter worked briefly in a candy factory to save enough to achieve his lifelong dream of traveling to America. He made the passage later that year and, after settling in the Washington, D.C. area, enrolled in the Ben Franklin University School of Accounting. Working nights at the original Clyde’s in Georgetown, he earned his CPA Degree.
Peter and Nancy were married in 1965, and together they had three children, Hilary in 1967, Peter in 1970, and Brad in 1971. Both that marriage and a second marriage to Janet Goldberg ended in divorce.
In 1971 Peter was recruited by Buster Day to work at his Francis O. Day Company, a paving and excavating company located in Rockville, Maryland. There he spent the next thirty-five years assisting the Day family in running the prestigious and successful paving and development business. He achieved the title of Vice President and Chief Comptroller of the Day Companies and retired in 2007.
Peter had a legendary, compelling, and commanding presence which naturally attracted people of all walks of life. He was an intuitive businessman, a natural horseman, a devoted father and friend, and faced his last challenge as bravely as he had faced every other challenge in his life.
He is survived by his loving family, daughter Hilary Luttrell Hitchen Bateman and her husband Chuck; son Peter Orme Hitchen, his wife Melanie, and their daughter Madilyn Nancy; son John Bradford Hitchen; brother Stanley Hitchen and his wife Jacky; and his devoted companion of fifteen years, Anne Ragland Finney.
A service will be held to celebrate Peter’s life on Saturday, January 24, 2015, at the Potomac Hunt Club, 21315 Peach Tree Road, Dickerson, MD 20842. Stirrup cup at 3:00 p.m., service at 3:11 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter’s memory may be made to The Potomac Hunt Club, 21315 Peach Tree Road, Dickerson, MD 20842
Posted January 16, 2015
Your editor remembers joyful days hunting with Peter at the Loudoun West Hunt behind the late Master and huntsman Bay Cockburn. Even a short exposure to Peter’s natural enthusiasm and good nature was always enough to lift my spirits. May you rest in peace, Peter; you lived a full life.
Peter Hitchen (left) at the races with Anne Finney; daughter Hilary Bateman; son Peter, daughter-in-law Melanie with granddaughter Madilyn Nancy; and son Brad / Liz Callar photo