Tributes have been paid following the sudden death of an "always smiling" storyteller who was known to almost everyone in his village. Retired postman Peter Rex, who died last week at home, spent most days chatting to people in the cafes and pubs of Pontyclun.
Pontyclun East councillor Paul Binning told WalesOnline that Peter was an "ever-present figure" who always wore a red cap and carried a photo album which he would show people when sharing stories of his life. A typical day would see Peter visit the Porcellini's and Thirsty Elephant coffee shops before enjoying a half-pint of lager at the Pipeworks or Windsor pubs.
A framed photograph of Peter was placed on every table in the Pipeworks and a half-pint on the bar as his many friends packed the pub last Saturday to pay their respects. In a Facebook post the Pipeworks described Peter, who was around 67 years old, as a "Pontyclun celeb".
Mr Binning said: "He was always smiling, always happy to chat to anyone and very thoughtful. If he knew someone had kids he would be asking after them. He used to love the open mic nights at the Pipeworks where he'd get up and have a sing. Country Roads was his favourite. It was nice because people would sing along with him and he needed that bit of help singing. He absolutely lapped it up and loved it when people were helping and supporting him singing."
Peter retired several years ago from his postal job and devoted most of his time to socialising in Pontyclun venues but he also had an "adventurous soul" when it came to travel, said Mr Binning. "Most conversations tended to be roughly the same – what you'd been doing, where you were going later – but when you sat down with him for a proper chat he opened up a bit more about his character. He always carried a photo album with pictures of him in all the continents and up mountains. He was amazingly well-travelled.
"Whether the photos were a day old or 40 years old he could drag them out of his album. He liked to cycle down to Porthcawl, Nash Point, or Cowbridge for coffee with people he'd picked up along the way – friends who maybe didn't know where he lived or his phone number but who would bump into him in his regular haunts and have a chat.
"Peter's mum and dad passed away some time ago and he'd always talk about them. He'd been on lots of trips and holidays with them and he used to spend a lot of time with his dad on long bike rides."
Mr Binning was "stunned and shocked" when he heard the news of Peter's death. Only days earlier the councillor and his 10-year-old son had enjoyed a chat with Peter at the Thirsty Elephant. The Pipeworks was "rammed" full last Saturday as friends raised a glass, he added.
Mike Murray, 52, only moved to Pontyclun three years ago but quickly formed a bond with the "amazing guy" at pubs in the village. "Everyone knew him," said Mike. "He never had a sad face on him. You wouldn't ever see him on his own because he'd always be talking to someone.
"He'd be out on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Any song that came on in the pub he would be dancing to it. It was an upper-body kind of dancing with his hands punching the air."
In a Facebook tribute Peter's friend Georgia John said she was "gutted" after Pontyclun had lost "an absolute legend". She wrote: "Thank you for being my dear friend and all our chats about your trips all around the world and most importantly the 122 down to rumba bar. I’ll miss hearing about your Sunday morning routine of hitting the TTE, your lunch at the Windsor – ’awwww lovely food there lovely food’ – followed by your half at the Pipeworks: ‘Awww Georgia you’re not leaving are you!!!’ (Even though it’s 9.30pm on a Sunday and I’ve been there three hours).
"You’ll be missed so much by us all and I hope you’re up there telling mum and dad about all the people who love you in Pontyclun. Rest in peace my darling Pete, all the leaves are brown."
Another friend Elise Holly posted on Facebook that she was "devastated" by the news. "Pete you were the light of Pontyclun and will be missed by everyone no doubt," she wrote. "Thank you for making each day that little bit better. Lots of love always and rest in peace. Take me homeee country road."
You can read more of the latest news from Pontyclun here. And you can get breaking news from across Wales here.
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