PETER Boone Scagell, a well known Newton Abbot garage proprietor who ran his business from Oak Place for more than two decades, has died at the age of 73.

Born into a naval family in Preston, Lancashire, during the war, he was named Boone as his mother Violet was the last family member descended from the family of Daniel Boone, the American frontiersman.

With his brother Tony he attended Plymouth’s St Budeaux Primary – their father Reginald had been posted to the Devonport naval Base.

In 1952 the family moved to Lincoln, by which time Tony had joined the RAF and Peter was at secondary school.

Five years later when their father retired, the family came to Devon where they took over the Royal Oak Inn, Ideford.

Peter joined Mid-Devon Motors, the Newton Abbot Ford dealers, as an apprentice and went to the South Devon Tech to obtain his qualifications.

After several years as a qualified motor engineer, he obtained a post as service manager at Imperial Garages, Torquay, before later running his own business, first from rented premises in Kingsteignton, and then from his own building in Oak Place.

During this time he was proud to have his son Steve as an apprentice and later as a fully qualified motor engineer. Peter retired at the age of 62.

He had married Madelaine, mother of their two children Suzanne and Steven in 1963, but she sadly died. He later met Sharon through his daughter and, after 16 years together, they married at Forde House, Newton Abbot.

They travelled extensively with friends and had an active social life, attending many dinner and dance functions with the Freemasons – he was a member of The Sanctuary Lodge No 5358 in Moretonhampstead and was well known for his charitable work and commitment to Freemasonry.

The funeral for Peter was held in St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Newton Abbot and was conducted by the Dean of Torbay, Canon Patrick Costello.