Talented and lifelong blacksmith Peter O’Neill who worked endlessly within the Greenwich community, has died aged 63.

Born in 1954, Peter started his path to becoming a blacksmith at the age of 19 where he welded and created objects with steel and wrought iron.

Alongside his best mate Colin Cornwell, the two transferred their skills from smithing in a garden to working for Cubows Ltd at the docks in Woolwich.

There Peter worked at building and repairing the tugs, trawlers and coasters that went through the busy docklands every day.

In 1976 Peter and Colin opened up their first business together in Greenwich, called Cornwell & O’Niell based out of two workshops.

It wasn’t just working at the dockyards though, as Peter frequently helped friends and neighbours repairing or making thigs for them.

Danny O’Neill, Peter’s son, said: “From a very young age I often went to work with my Dad at weekends and during the summer holidays.

“From going so often I could see how he played a key role in the community; anyone who passed by would stop to have a chat over the stable door, or a neighbour would just pop in to have their garden shears sharpened.

“My Dad did a lot of work for the area, whether it was a small repair job or making a staircase, he enjoyed every minute and was very hard working.

“I would guess that most railings or gates in the area were most likely made or repaired by my Dad.

“Nothing proved this more than the week after his death, when two local people I had never met but came into contact with told me that they knew of him and one had window boxes made by him back in the early 80s.”

The business eventually became Greenwich Forge after moving up to Guildford Grove, where it still operates today.

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