HOCKEY players and officials throughout Kent, in particular members of the the umpiring fraternity, have suffered a loss with the death of Peter Brown at the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester following a short illness. He was 70.

Mr Brown's involvement in hockey began when he attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in Rochester in the early 1940s and developed into a fearless and first class goalkeeper, ultimately playing for Kent Schools. There he also excelled at cricket and cross-country running. On leaving school in 1948 he joined the Royal Navy and, while with the service, represented them in goal, as well as the Combined Services XI.

Mr Brown, of Stuart Road, Gillingham, played as a regular member of the Old illiamsonians side until retiring from playing in the early 1960s to take up umpiring. In 1966, together with other enthusiasts, he was instrumental in forming the Kent Hockey Umpires Association and was extremely active during its formative years to ensure its foundation on a sound "professional" basis.

Shortly afterwards he joined the Southern Counties Hockey Umpires Association and was graded by them in 1970. Under their guidance he progressed very rapidly to international appointments. He umpired 102 outdoor and indoor international matches. His attention then turned to the coaching of umpires and he received approval from the FIH to conduct coaching tours in Australia (twice), Canada (twice), numerous European countries including Russia and finally in the West Indies. He also served as National Umpire Development Officer.

In recent years he held the posts of president of Kent Hockey Umpires Association and vice president and president of Kent Hockey Association, and was made a life vice president of the Hockey Association in 1997. A year later he was awarded the Diploma of Merit by the FIH.

During the summer he operated the score board for Kent County Cricket Club.